Dijon (Côte d'Or)

Dijon is a city in eastern France, the administrative capital of the Côte-d'Or département and of the Bourgogne région. Dijon is the historical capital of the province of Burgundy.

Dijon is the capital of the wine-growing region of Burgundy. With a population of approximately 145,000 people, the city is famed for its wine based spicy mustard. At a quick glance, Dijon could be mistaken for a typical French town but dig a little deeper and the city exudes a romantic, medieval feel, full of history and architecture.

Things To Do

Dijon holds the annual International and Gastronomic Fair each October. With over 500 exhibitors and 200,000 visitors every year, this is one of the ten most important fairs in France. In addition to this, every three years, Dijon hosts the International Flower Show, Florissimo.

There is an abundance of shops to browse around. In particular, the large market which has an indoor food hall with stalls specialising in products such as cheeses, wine and spicies. Clothes stalls and other wares can be found dotted around the streets. One of the main shopping streets is the "de la Libertie" and it is here that 'The Mustard Shop', which dates back to 1820, can be found.

Within the antique quarter of the town, you will be able to fully appreciate the local architecture and history with its half-timbered houses and cobbled streets.

Other streets in the city centre not to be missed:

• Rue Berbisey has a Cosmopolitan mixture of shops and architecture.
• Rue de la Choutte boasts some fine antique shops and is located close to the cathedral Notre Dame.
• Rue de Liberte is the main shopping high street and offers numerous fashion boutiques.

Places to dine and enjoy the local tipple can be found at every glance. In addition to traditional Burgundian meals, other regional dishes can also be enjoyed in numerous restaurants and cafes around the city. There is one to suit all tastes and budgets.

Places of Interest

• Cathedrale Saint-Benigne (Dijon Cathedral) - a wonderful medieval church with stunning architecture.
• Notre Dame - a beautiful Burgundian gothic style building, which dates from the second quarter of the thirteenth century. Particularly worth visiting at night time to appreciate the atmosphere and the church's unique gargoyle covered facade.
• Ducal palace - 'Palace of the Dukes' from where the powerful Burgundy Dukes ruled their lands. The magnificent building has slowly changed over the centuries from a fortified castle into an elegant palace. Today it is open for visitors to look around and is one of France's finest art galleries. It is also the location for official parades and ceremonies.

Weather

Dijon is fortunate to have a mild climate throughout the year. Even the summer months enjoy an average temperature of about 20c, making it a comfortable destination for all tourists. March to May sees more regular rainfall than the rest of the year, but the winter rarely gets cold enough for snowfall.

About the location

Dijon is located approximately one hour and 40 minutes southeast of Paris by the TGV high-speed train. By car, Dijon is about three hours from Paris.

Public transport available

• Dijon Airport (DIJ) - 6.8km from city centre - Telephone:  + 33 (0)3 80 67 67 67
• Dijon railway station is one of the busiest outside Paris with direct high-speed TGV connections to Paris and Lyon.

Tourist information website

www.dijon-tourism.com

Tourist information contact email

info@dijon-tourism.com

Tourist information switch board number

33 (0) 8 92 70 05 58

Tourist information address

Office de Tourisme de Dijon - 11 rue des Forges - BP 82296 - 21022 Dijon Cedex

Local places of interest

Mustard Museum in Dijon (Musée de la Moutarde) (0.65 km)

Dijon, the mustard capital of the world, is home to the Musee de la Moutarde, also known as Musee Amora. Tours of the museum are offered in English. read more...

Natural History Museum, Dijon (Musée d'Histoire Naturelle) (0.94 km)

The natural history museum was set up in the gardens of Jardin de l'Arquebuse in 1860. It is a real showcase of the animal kingdom and presents permanent and temporary exhibitions. An interesting collection of Anatidae frolic on the Raines, a little stream that has its source at the Chartreuse de Champmol. read more...

The Arquebus botanical garden, Dijon (Jardin de l'Arquebuse) (1.02 km)

The Arquebus botanical garden, arboretum and park is scattered with walking paths, ponds, streams, play areas for children and other features. Extended after the French Revolution, 1833 saw the creation of a botanical garden designed in the same tradition as the 19th century botanical gardens. A vast arboretum enables visitors to discover a number of foreign species. The natural history museum was set up here in 1860. It is a real showcase of the animal kingdom and presents permanent and temporary exhibitions. An interesting collection of Anatidae frolic on the Raines, a little stream that has its source at the Chartreuse de Champmol. read more...

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