Occupying a strategic location between Northern Europe and the lands of the South, the capital of Burgundy was home to one of Europe's most brilliant courts in the 14th and 15th century: the court of the Dukes of Burgundy. An exceptional architectural ensemble that testifies to this splendid past, the built heritage of Dijon, a City of Art and History, consists of superb monuments and picturesque old half-timbered houses. In the Renaissance, as well as in the 17th and 18th centuries, elegant mansions were built: the Esterno mansion, Coeurderoy mansion, Legouz de Gerland mansion, Bouhier de Lantenay mansion, etc.
You can explore the city on foot, by tramway, bike, shuttle bus or Segway, and there are many guided tours for you to learn about its history and its well-preserved neighbourhoods. The Owl Trail, a 22-step walking circuit to take at your own pace, will show you the essential sights of the historic centre. So take the time to stroll around its pedestrian streets and pleasant squares, then make the most of the lovely shops and delicatessens that you'll find along the way. Note the shop for Henri Maille, mustard-maker extraordinaire! You can buy this brand all over the world. So, yes… Dijon mustard!
Based in the Palace of the Dukes and States of Burgundy, which also houses Dijon City Hall, the Fine Arts Museum has remarkable collections ranging from Antiquity to the 21st century through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. In what was once the great ceremonial hall, you can admire the sumptuous tombs of the Dukes Philip the Bold and John the Fearless. Dating from the 15th century, the Philip the Good Tower, which stands 46 metres tall and overlooks the palace, will offer you stunning views of the city and its surroundings!
The city's many churches, spanning every era from the Middle Ages to the present day, have earned Dijon its moniker of "city of a hundred bell towers". The Church of Our Lady, the oldest, is a Gothic masterpiece with its remarkable gargoyle-adorned façade. Its unusual sculpted owl, located on one of the building's buttresses, is thought to bring good luck. You have to stroke it with your left hand while making a wish! Inside the church, at the south apsidiole you can see the very old statue of Our Lady of Good Hope, a wooden Virgin from the 11th century.
Other sights to see are the Cathedral of St. Benignus in the Burgundian Gothic style, the old Church of St. Anne that is now a religious art museum, the Church of St. Michael in the Flamboyant Gothic style, the Church of St. Stephen, where the choir and transept house the Rude Museum devoted to the Dijon sculptor François Rude, etc.
