The Musée du Temps in Besançon: a museum in a palace
Located in the heart of a prestigious Renaissance palace, the Granvelle Palace, the Time Museum retraces the great moments of watchmaking in Besançon, bringing together the history of time measurement and the history of the city.
The evocation of Besançon as a "watchmaking capital" is reflected in the museum through the city's heritage collections. In addition to the famous Leroy 01, long considered the most complicated watch in the world, the museum presents some of the instruments of the Besançon Astronomical Observatory, which certified the correct operation of the chronometers, as well as the educational material of the National Watchmaking School. In addition, the watchmaking collections offer an overview of the history of the discipline, with Ferdinand Berthoud and Antide Janvier representing some of the greatest names in watchmaking history.
At the same time, tapestries, famous people, relief drawings, historical paintings, furniture and objets d'art invite us to delve into the history of the place, the town and even the Franche-Comté region.
To finish, a panorama of the city's roofs is offered to visitors after contemplating Foucault's famous pendulum, located at the foot of the palace tower, which gives rhythm to the Earth's rotation.
- French, German, English
- Hearing handicap, Mental handicap, Motor handicap
- Credit card, Payment cards, Cheques and postal orders, Cash, Eurocard - Mastercard, Visa
- Pets not allowed
- Fully equipped meeting room
- Toilettes
- Shop
- Room rental
- Specific theme activities
- Adult workshop
- Junior workshop
- Conferences
- Temporary exhibitions
From 02/11/2024 to 04/11/2024 of 10:00 to 12:30 - of 14:00 to 18:00.
Closed on : Monday
From 05/11/2024 to 22/12/2024 of 14:00 to 18:00.
Closed on : Monday
The 24/12/2024
From 26/12/2024 to 31/12/2024 of 10:00 to 12:30 - of 14:00 to 18:00.
Closed on : Monday
Low season from 2 November to 31 March (excluding school holidays): Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday / 2pm-6pm
High season from 1 April to 31 October, and during zone A school holidays: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday / 10am-12.30pm 2pm-6pm
All year round: Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays / 10am-6pm non-stop
- Base rate - full rate adult (Combined ticket with the Museum of Fine Arts and Archaeology and Maison Victor Hugo) : 8.6€
- Other rate (Bisontin rate) : 6.5€
- Gratuities (1st Sunday of the month)
- Other rate (reduced rate) : 4.3€
The Museum of Time will close on Monday 8 November and reopen in mid-June 2022.