Musée des Beaux-Arts et d'Archéologie
Musée des Beaux-Arts et d'Archéologie de Besançon
Founded in 1694, France's oldest public museum reopened after a 2018 renovation. Its collection ranges from Egyptian mummies to Courbet.
The museum occupies the former site of the old grain market, and concrete ramps link its galleries. Exhibits include Egyptian and Gallo-Roman antiquities, paintings by Bronzino, Titian, Rubens, Goya and Fragonard, large works by the local painter Courbet, and an extensive collection of drawings. It is closed on Tuesdays. Admission is about €8, and it is often free on the first Sunday of each month. The museum is located on Place de la Révolution beside the Pont Battant. On weekends, the square has an indoor market you can browse on your way.
Opening hours
Wed–Mon about 10:00am–6:00pm (closed Tuesdays)
Nearby sights
- Grande Rue & Old Town
- Battant Quarter & Quai Vauban
- Musée du Temps (Palais Granvelle)
- Doubs River Cruise
- Victor Hugo's Birthplace
- Porte Noire & Square Castan
- Parc Micaud
- Besançon Cathedral & Astronomical Clock