Tourist information on Dijon, France

Dijon is a thriving industrial city in eastern France. Situated roughly 300 km southeast of Paris, it is the capital of both the Côte-d'Or département and Burgundy (Bourgogne) region. Historically, it is one of France's oldest and most important towns, originating as the Roman settlement Divio on the road between Lyon and Paris. In the 11th century, it became the seat of the Dukes of Burgandy, under whose influence it grew into the epicentre of one of Europe's great independent states, which covered a wide area of northeast France, western Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. The Dukes not only built a magnificent palace to show off their wealth and power, they were also bulimic patrons of the arts. It was their influence that made Dijon a major centre of Gothic and Renaissance art in the 14th and 15th centuries. Dijon's glory days ended in 1477, when Burgandy became part of France, although it continued to prosper as one of the country's most active industrial centres. Today, Dijon is a cosmopolitan city and a hub of commerce, industry and education. With its culinary reputation and historic city centre, it is also a magnet for tourists and gourmets.

Dijon's main attraction is its Palais des ducs (Ducal Palace), or to give it its full title, le Palais des ducs et des États de Bourgogne. This was the residence and seat of power of the Dukes of Burgandy and reflects its importance in both its size and elaborate architectural design. Constructed over several centuries, the palace shows different architectural styles, including Gothic and Classical. It overlooks the 17th century Place de la Libération and houses several visitor attractions, including: the Musée des Beaux-Arts, a fine arts museum with an impressive collection of paintings by local and Flemish artists; the Medieval kitchens; and the Salle des Gardes (Guard rooms) containing the tombs of the Dukes Philippe le Hardi (Philip the Bold) and Jean sans Peur (John the Fearless).

Another historically important building is the Chartreuse de Champmol, a Carthusian monastery on the western outskirts of Dijon. It was founded by Philip the Bold in 1383 as a burial place for the Dukes of Burgandy. It ceased to function as such in 1791 and today it serves as a mental institution. Its most famous exhibit is the Puits de Moïse (Well of Moses), a monument by Claus Sluter. In addition to its fine arts gallery (situated in the Ducal Palace), Dijon offers an interesting selection of museums, which include: la Musée Archéologique (an archaeology museum), la Musée de la Vie Bourguignonne et d'Art Sacré (exhibitions of religious art and local artefacts housed in a Cistercian convent) and la Musée Magnin (a collection of paintings and drawing from the 16th to 19th centuries, displayed in the Hôtel de Lantin).

Unlike many French cities, Dijon has been spared the wholesale destruction wrought by successive wars and consequently much of its historical architecture remains intact, exhibiting a wide diversity of styles which include Capetian, Gothic and Renaissance. The town's most distinctive architectural feature is its coloured tiled roofs. Dijon's many churches have none of the grandeur of the Palais des ducs but offer interesting examples of the city's architectural styles. St. Michel church, located to the east of the Palais des Ducs, was built from the 15th to the 17th century and is distinguished by its impressive Renaissance façade. The Cathédrale St Bénigne and Notre Dame de Dijon Church are fine examples of Gothic architecture.

Dijon has an abundance of green open space which includes the Jardin botanique de l'Arquebuse, a substantial botanical garden and arboretum, and the Jardin Darcy, an attractive park situated near the train station. The Rue de la Liberté, which extends eastwards from the Place Darcy to the the Palais des Ducs, is one of Dijon's main shopping streets, offering a wide range of shops, including the Boutique Maille (which sells Maille mustards). Nearby Beaune is an attractive town whose attractions are its many wineries and fine examples of regional architecture.

Dijon is famous for its mustard, its wines and its crème de cassis (a blackcurrant liqueur). It is also renowned for its cuisine, its regional dishes including beef bourguignon, coq au vin, gougère and pain d'épices. Dijon's main cultural event is its International and Gastronomic Fair, which takes place in the autumn each year and is one of the most important fairs in France.

There is no commercial airport in Dijon, but the Gare de Dijon-Ville, the city's main railway station, provides a high speed (TGV) rail service to Paris, the journey time being about one hour and 40 minutes.