Known for its hearty red and dry white wines, the Burgundy region occupies a swath of territory southeast of Paris. Dijon, synonymous worldwide with mustard (though residents grimace at the mention), is the largest city in Burgundy. There is, of course, a mustard museum, and don't miss the Puits de Moise, an immense sculpture that dates from the 14th century. While there, see the Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy, which houses an art museum, and stroll through the old quarter near the Rue des Forges. The city's fine-arts museum is one of France's best and most varied. Next to the museum is the 15th-century Tower of Philippe le Bon, which you can climb for a great outlook over the city. Note the gold-patterned roofs, which you'll see only in Burgundy. Dijon is 160 mi/255 km southeast of Paris.
If you drive south, you'll come to a particularly charming town, Beaune. This is the heart of Burgundy's Cote d'Or wine-making region. Among its attractions are the church, the Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy (a wine museum) and the Hotel-Dieu (a hospital founded in 1443, now a museum). At the Hotel-Dieu, note the multicolored tile roof and the altarpiece painted by Roger van der Weyden. Shop for wine in town or take an enjoyable ride through the region, visiting the wineries and sampling the wines along the way (arrange your visits in the morning or the day before). Beaune is 25 mi/40 km south of Dijon.
In the northwest corner of Burgundy, about an hour from Dijon, lies Auxerre. This town, in the heart of Chablis country, has some interesting ancient architecture: the 13th-century Cathedral of St. Etienne (crypt, treasury room and tower); the Abbey of St. Germain (ninth-century frescoes—among the oldest in France); and a 13th-century clock tower in the old neighborhood. Nearby you can visit an exhibit that contains the entire original mechanics of the clock. There are also two museums: the Leblanc-Duvernoy and the Lapidary. Just outside of town is the hilltop village of Vezelay. There you'll find the 13th-century basilica of St. Magdalen, an important site along the pilgrim road to Santiago and the launch site for two crusades. Auxerre is 75 mi/120 km northwest of Dijon.
HOW TO GET THRERE
CAR
France : the following towns are just a few hours away by motorway: Lyon : 200 km - 2h00 (by the A6 motorway) Mulhouse : 220 km - 2h00 (A36 then A39) Paris : 310 km - 3h00 (A6) Lille : 500 km - 4h40 (A1 then A5)
TRAIN
Dijon railway station is one of the busiest outside Paris (20 000 passengers per day).
Direct high-speed TGV connections to and from the following towns :
Paris (Gare de Lyon): 1h40 (15 return connections daily) Lyon: 1h50 Paris (Charles de Gaulle Airport): 2h00 Lille: 3h00 The Eurostar takes you from the heart of London to Dijon: London : 5h00 (up to 15 connections daily) Travel the length of our region with the Regional Express Network (TER). Most towns in Burgundy can be reached from Dijon.
AIR
There are currently no scheduled airline connections to and from Dijon Bourgogne Airport despite extremely impressive runway and service facilities due to the presence of the military air base.
However, an air-taxi service puts you within easy reach of French and European destinations.
Airline's operate to airports within 300 kilometres of Dijon : London / Basel (250km – 2 hrs 30 min. by road) Geneva (200km – 2 hrs 30 min. by road) St Etienne (250 km – 2 hrs 40 min. by road)
THINGS TO SEE AND DO
Shop! Dijon has something for everyone on your list.
Antiquing - many antique stores are in the quarter around rue Verrerie behind Notre Dame.
Visit the canal - the Burgundy canal was constructed at the end of the 18th century. See the obelisk and a monument to Gustave Eiffel, born here in 1832. Take a ride down the canal on a tour boat.
Just walk, walk, walk! Use the suggested walking routes by the city, or just walk where your legs take you. As long as you stay within the "center village" area, you'll always have something beautiful and different to admire.
Sit in one of the many charming parks and enjoy the scenery.
Palais
The Palais des Ducs et des Etats de Bourgogne - topped with the tour Philippe le Bon, a witness to the original ducal residence. The palais was embellished in the 17th and 18th centuries, first by Jules Hardouin Mansart (architect of Versailles), then by Jacques V Gabriel. In the ancient Tour de Bar, Rene d'Anjou, the Comte de Provence was imprisioned. Near the Tour de Bar you can admire the 15th century ducal kitchens and in the cour de Bar, enjoy the 20th century statue of Claus Sluter by Henri Bouchard. The east wing of the the palace houses the Musee des Beaux Arts. Across the Place de la Liberation, stroll by the shops enclosed in the semi-circular seventeenth-century classical style facades.
la Tour Philippe le Bon - Summer (from Easter to the third Sunday in November) open everyday from 9am to 5.30pm. In winter, open Wednesdays from 1.30pm to 3.30pm and on Saturdays and Sundays from 9am to 330pm. Reduced tarif for groups and students. Information call 03 80 74 52 71. Buy your tickets at the Welcome Center in the Cour d'honneur de l'Hotel de Ville. Groups taken up every 1/4 hour by a guide. If you can climb the 316 steps to the top, you will be rewarded with a magnificent 360-degree view of Dijon. The tower reopened May 12, 2001 after being closed for five years. Don't miss this opportunity!
Museums
Botanical gardens and Museum of Natural History
The Musée des Beaux-Arts, one of France's oldest and richest museums. Boasts exceptional sculpture and a collection of 14th - 19th century European paintings. The tomb of Philippe the Bold is here, made between 1385 and 1411 and is considered the best in France.
The Musée Magnin, 4 rue des bons enfants, with its beautiful seventeenth-century architecture and its large collection of paintings accumulated by the Magnin family over the years.
The Musée Archéologique, 5, rue du Dr Maret, has great finds from Dijon archaeological digs.
The Musée de la Vie Bourguignonne, celebrating folkloric costumes, farm implements, and even some storefront facades removed from Dijon's center in the 18th and 19th centuries. Located in the old Bernandine Convent on rue Saint Anne.
The Musée d'Art Sacré, with its collection of church treasures, is housed in the Bernandine Convent chapel.
Churches and Cathedrals
St-Bénigne church, Dijon's very own gothic Cathedral, home to a crypt built in 1007, a masterpiece of Romanesque art in Burgundy.
Notre-Dame, an impressive thirteenth-century Gothic church housing a 12th century statue of the Black Virgin. Don't forget to rub the owl on the outside of the church with your left hand for good luck. A 700 year old tradition! Notice the Jacquemart clock perched on top of the church. Dating from 1383, it was taken from the belfry of Courtai and brought to Dijon by Philippe le Hardi.
Saint Michel - lower facade an excellent example of Renaissance architecture.
Renaissance houses
The Rue des Forges, and its sixteenth-century Hôtels particuliers
The Hôtel Chambellan - nowadays the tourist office on rue des Forges. Stunning gothic courtyard. Get a look at the former vaulted kitchen where the office is located.
The homes located behind the palais' circular section are among the oldest in Dijon. You'll see awesome representations of ancient architechture.
Dijon Mustard
Amora mustard museum - Reserve your spot at the Dijon Tourist office. Ask about English tours. When I went only French was spoken. Space is limited. Museum is located in the manufacturing plant at 48 Quai Nicolas Rolin. There are tours everyday except Sunday at 3pm.
Boutique Maille mustard store at 32 rue de la Liberte. This 18th century company is a Dijon institution you must see! You can buy mustard here that isn't available anywhere else in the world!
To Book or Enquire
Please call us now on +61 2 8270 4866.
Our Opening hours are 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday (except on public holidays).
Alternatively, you can enquire about this holiday by clicking the button below.
