Musée du Temps

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.

Dates

Opening periods

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

from Thu 12/26 to Tue 12/31/2024 : Tue-Fri : from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm / from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm - Sat, Sun : from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
from Thu 01/02 to Mon 01/06/2025 : Tue-Fri : from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm / from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm - Sat, Sun : from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
from Tue 01/07 to Fri 02/21/2025 : Tue-Sun : from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm
from Sat 02/22 to Sun 03/09/2025 : Tue-Fri : from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm / from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm - Sat, Sun : from 10:30 am to 6:00 pm
from Mon 03/10 to Mon 03/31/2025 : Tue-Fri : from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm - Sat, Sun : from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
from Tue 04/01 to Fri 04/18/2025 : Tue-Fri : from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm / from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm - Sat, Sun : from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
from Sat 04/19 to Wed 04/30/2025 : Tue-Fri : from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm / from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm - Sat, Sun : from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
from Fri 05/02 to Sun 05/04/2025 : Tue-Fri : from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm / from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm - Sat, Sun : from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
from Mon 05/05 to Fri 07/04/2025 : Tue-Fri : from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm / from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm - Sat, Sun : from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
from Sat 07/05 to Sun 08/31/2025 : Tue-Fri : from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm / from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm - Sat, Sun : from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
from Mon 09/01 to Fri 10/17/2025 : Tue-Fri : from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm / from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm - Sat, Sun : from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
from Sat 10/18 to Fri 10/31/2025 : Tue-Fri : from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm / from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm - Sat, Sun : from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Sun 11/02 : from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
from Mon 11/03 to Fri 12/19/2025 : Tue-Sun : from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Practical information

Group service

Thematic

Museum

Industry

Profession

New technology and images

History

Science and technology

Activities

Specific theme activities

Adult workshop

Junior workshop

Conferences

Temporary exhibitions

Visits for individuals

Duration of the visit

1 MINUTE

Tours for groups

Services

Shop

Room rental

Rates

	MINI	Max	Additional information
Gratuities			1st Sunday of the month
Base rate - full rate adult	8.6 €	-	Combined ticket with the Museum of Fine Arts and Archaeology and Maison Victor Hugo
Other rate	6.5 €	-	Bisontin rate
Other rate	4.3 €	-	reduced rate

Means of payment

Credit card

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Cash

Eurocard - Mastercard

Visa

Besançon Pass Tourisme

BESANCON -

Mémoire vive

96 Grande rue

Palais Granvelle

25000 BESANCON

Fixed

Visit the website Contact

Dates

Opening periods

Practical information

Thematic

Activities

Visits for individuals

Tours for groups

Services

Rates

Means of payment

See also

Besançon Pass Tourisme

Mémoire vive

Newsletter

Besançon live

Serpe et Chaudron - Ateliers autour des Plantes sauvages et Balades botaniques

Le Kursaal

Maison Victor Hugo

Sylvie BUATOIS céramiste animalière RAKU

Décorations de Noël

Contact

Nature and culture destination

An exceptional heritage

Capital of time

Green city par excellence

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Art in all its states

Besançon happiness booster

The Grand Besançon territory

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