Prepare your visit

When should you come?

The Astronomical Clock is open from 1 April to 31 October and during the Christmas, Winter and Easter school holidays. Exceptionally, it may be open outside these periods for school visits.

How long does the tour last?

A guided tour of the Clock takes 40 minutes.

Please note that due to the small size of the room in which the Clock is located, we can accommodate a maximum of 20 people . If the group exceeds this size, it will have to be split into two sub-groups, so two 40-minute tours will be required. This is our ERP safety gauge, so our capacity is limited. Thank you for your understanding.

If your group has to be split into two, this will not affect the price. Simply book two consecutive tour slots. While the first group is on a guided tour, the second can, for example, discover Saint Jean Saint Etienne cathedral on its own .

When to book?

To ensure that your visit is as comfortable as possible and spread out as evenly as possible over the day, you must book (even for the self-guided tour) at least a month and a half in advance with the monument's education department.

Requests should be made by telephone or e-mail.

School, extra-curricular and student groups are subject to the "school group" rates of the Centre des monuments nationaux. Rates are fixed (per class: maximum 35 pupils).

Full price

Reduced rate (REP)

Reduced rates apply to :

• REP or REP+ schools
• adapted classes (UP2A, CLIS, ULIS, SEGPA, etc.)
• establishments and classes specialising in combating early school leaving
• facilities for people with disabilities
• facilities located in priority neighbourhoods/urban policy areas
• youth protection or child welfare facilities
• associations providing assistance to new arrivals or helping people integrate into society.

Payment must be made on the day of the visit at the château ticket office. Any group failing to present the correct means of payment may be refused access to the monument.

Traditional payments :

• Cash: we do not accept 200€ or 500€ banknotes.
• Credit card.

• Please wear appropriate clothing.
• Chaperones must maintain visual contact with pupils and supervise them throughout the school outing.
• No toilets are available in the Besançon Astronomical Clock or the cathedral.
• It is forbidden to eat or drink inside the cathedral and the Astronomical Clock.
• Picnics are not permitted in the cathedral but are possible 30m away in the Square Castan.

By car

• From the A36 motorway (Beaune-Mulhouse), take exit 4 to enter Besançon city centre.The Astronomical Clock is located in the heart of Besançon city centre.Buses can park free of charge in the Chamars car park (12 minutes' walk from the cathedral).

By public transport

• By train: the station is within walking distance (2.1 km), but there are also a number of public transport services running between the station and the city centre.
• By bus: L3 or L5 bus; T2 tram.

Arriving at the site

The Astronomical Clock is located in one of the lower rooms of the cathedral's bell tower. It is accessible from inside the cathedral (about fifteen steps up) or from the rue du chapitre, at number 25.

Unless payment has been made in advance via an order form or Pass Culture, the sums due must be paid by the group leader by cheque, cash or credit card.

What if I'm late?

Any delay is detrimental to your outing: remember to inform the monument if you are more than 10 minutes late.