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Prefecture of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France
Photo: Arnaud 25, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Dijon is the largest city in the eastern French region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. Dijon is best known for its mustard (named after the town), which is no longer produced in its metropolitan area. The main city of Côte-d'Or department is one of the most beautiful cities in France, and its historic buildings and byways were not heavily damaged by bombing in World War II and are largely intact.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
The Owl
The icon of Dijon, sculpted on the side of the Notre-Dame church in 15th century. Story says it can grant you a wish when you touch it with your left hand.
Place du Bareuzai
A central place with beautiful traditional houses, a fountain with a sculpture, with an old carousel, and a lot of cafés and bars. Popular among locals on summer days.
Palais des Ducs et des États de Bourgogne
A beautiful building, former main residency of the Dukes of Burgundy. Nowadays, the building is split between the roles for town hall on its western and central areas, while its eastern part is occupied by the "Musée des Beaux-Arts" (Museum of Fine Arts). It contains priceless treasures and wonderful art that was the property of the Dukes of Burgundy. If you visit nothing else in Dijon, visit this museum.
4,400-m² covered market completed in 1875. It is surrounded by many restaurants and café terraces.
Cathédrale Saint-Bénigne
It was built in the 14th century and is a national monument.
A church from the 13th century, famous for its automaton clock, stolen in Coutrai (Belgium) in 1383.
Puits de Moïse
A splendid monument by Claus Sluter, is now on the grounds of a psychiatric hospital but can be visited nonetheless. You can go there using a walking/cycling trail called the "Coulée verte"; see the Do stuff to know more.
This art museum is in the Palais Ducal and has a permanent exhibition of medieval art from Dijon's heyday as capital of the Dukes of Burgundy. On the upper floor, there are lots of paintings by local artists and Flemish painters. The museum sometimes hosts temporary exhibitions with works from local artists. The most famous part of the museum is the Guard Room with tombs. On the top floor, there is 19th- and 20th-century art like Picasso, Monet or Courbet.
Natural History Museum
The natural history museum was set up in the gardens of Jardin de l'Arquebuse in 1860. It showcases the animal kingdom in both permanent and temporary exhibitions.
Museum of Life in Burgundy
The museum is housed in the cloister of the Bernadine Monastery and provides a collection of scenes depicting life in rural and urban Burgundy from the 18th century to the beginning of the 20th century.
Museum of Sacred Art
The museum is housed in the church of the Bernardine monastery, built in the early eighteenth century. Works of art, sculptures, paintings and silverware show the artistic history of the province from the 12th to the 20th centuries.
Small restaurant at the end of a ruelle. Cozy and convivial, decorated with kitsch old French ep records like Claude François, you'll be able to order very big plates based on potato, salad and cheese around an apéro maison. Quite cheap but good luck to eat all your plate. But if you can't eat it all, they will give you a doggy bag. Be sure to call before coming, as the restaurant is small and sometimes crowded on Saturday evenings.
Dish of the day for €10.
French cuisine
French cuisine
French cuisine
Vegetarian
One the most well known cafés in Dijon. Most people go there for the ambiance of this small place where you can meet all the people involved locally in ecology, communism, free software, anarchism, art, and free-thinking. There you'll be able to play chess or go with strangers and meet a lot of interesting persons. You can also eat "brasserie" food (€3-7) or "plat du jour" (€8).
Very nice in the summer with its open courtyard, couches and ping pong table. You can also take a look inside the painted buildings where painters and sculptors show their work. Some nights there is concerts, films or games. A bit outside of the city center (15 minutes walk), it's a good idea to get there after a walk using the Coulée Verte trail as it's on the way to the Kir Lake (see the Do section). Drinks are €1-3, and you can eat a simple sandwich for €3.50. You'll have to become a member of the association to order food and drinks (€5, includes the first drink).
2-star hotel, no frills, but clean, quiet and very pleasant. The location cannot be beaten, in the centre of the antique pedestrian area. Excellent boulangerie across the street and a nice, little restaurant (serving only mussels and pommes frites) down the street — both great at what they do and good value.
Located in the city just downstream from Lac Kir. On the Ouche River and close to the canal. Almost everything you might want to do in Dijon can be accessed on foot from the campground. There is also a large InterMarche food store within a 10-minute walk. All sites are separated by hedges, there are toilets, showers and a washing up area. Free WiFi is available in the area of the Registration office.
By plane
There are a few TGV high-speed trains directly from the center of Dijon to Paris CDG airport. If your arrival is at Paris Gare de Lyon, which there are frequent TGV trains to Dijon, you can either :
By bus
Flixbus connects Dijon to all the major European cities.
By car
Dijon is well connected to the freeway and highways networks, where you can drive cars. Traffic is restricted in the centre of the city and mostly reserved to pedestrians.
By bicycle
If you want to get a bit outside of the downtown (like to get to the well of Moses) it's often easier and faster to use a bicycle.
Public transport
Buses and trams in Dijon are operated by Divia.45 for a 72-hour ticket. There is also city bus which is free of cost which will take you around the city.
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