Journées du Patrimoine à Belfort

The Heritage Days in Belfort: two days of exceptional opening

Each year, during the third weekend of September, Belfort (90000) celebrates the European Heritage Days with an exceptional program that opens its most beautiful monuments and spaces, usually less accessible, to the public. These days, organized on a European scale, take on a special dimension in Belfort thanks to the rich heritage of this city with a unique historical destiny.

The Vauban Citadel, a jewel of world heritage

The highlight of the Heritage Days in Belfort is undoubtedly the Vauban Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage site as part of the Vauban fortifications. This masterpiece of 17th-century military architecture is unveiled during the Heritage weekend with expanded access and enriched tours:

• Free visit of the Cour d'Honneur, the galleries, and the Grand Souterrain
• Discovery of a powder magazine and the bastions
• Access to the Tour des Bourgeois
• Belvedere and large panoramic terrace with city views
• Itinerant shows by the museum team (by reservation)

Shows to liven up the monuments

The Belfort museum team offers original itinerant shows in and around the citadel, making history come alive and accessible to all. Visitors can attend:

• "En état de siège" — evocation of the historic siege of Belfort in 1870-71
• "Ça papillonne, la Citadelle version nature" — discovery of biodiversity within the fortifications
• "Vauban, an engineer at the service of the Sun King" — portrait of the famous military engineer
• "To the defenders of Belfort" — tribute to the heroes of the siege

These shows are offered on Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 PM, by reservation with the City Museums.

The Belfort History Museum

Housed in the citadel since 1872, the Belfort History Museum offers free and guided tours of its rich archaeological, historical, ethnological, artistic, and military collections during the Heritage Days. It is here that one understands how Belfort, the only city in Alsace not annexed by Germany after the war of 1870, became a territory in its own right.

The architectural heritage of the old town

The old town of Belfort holds remarkable architectural heritage: bourgeois private mansions, religious buildings, historic fountains, and a coherent urban ensemble from the 18th and 19th centuries. The Heritage Days are an opportunity to discover certain buildings normally closed to the public, thanks to thematic guided tours organized by Belfort Tourisme.