There’s so much more to Dijon than mustard! The capital of the region now known as Bourgogne-Franche-Comté is incredibly rich in terms of architecture and culture. If you’re wondering what to see in Dijon, I’ve made a list of my favourite sights in this charming city in the department of Côte-d’Or in the east of France.
The first thing you’ll notice in Burgundy is that it looks very different from the rest of France because of the glazed roof tiles bearing multi-coloured, intricate patterns.
Such roof tiles were popular from the 14th century and became a bit of a status symbol. They were widely used in important buildings or properties owned by the rich bourgeois to show off their wealth. Today, they’re an icon of the historic region of Burgundy.
Contents
- Why visit Dijon?
- How long to stay in Dijon?
- Top 22 sights in Dijon, France
- Palais des ducs et des États de Bourgogne (Palace of the Dukes and Estates of Burgundy)
- Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon (Dijon Museum of Fine Arts)
- Cathédrale Saint-Bénigne de Dijon (Cathedral of Saint Benignus of Dijon)
- Église Notre-Dame de Dijon (Notre-Dame Church of Dijon) and the owl of Dijon
- Hôtel de Vogüé (De Vogüé Hotel)
- Place François Rude (François Rude Square)
- Rue des Forges (Street of the Foundries)
- Musée archéologique de Dijon (Archaeological Museum of Dijon)
- Musée Rude (Rude Museum)
- Musée Magnin (Magnin Museum)
- Église Saint-Michel (Saint Michael’s Church)
- Musée de la Vie bourguignonne (Museum of Burgundian Life)
- Cité internationale de la gastronomie et du vin (International City of Gastronomy and Wine)
- Moutarde Maille Dijon (Maille Mustard Dijon)
- Jardin de l’Arquebuse (Garden of the Arquebus)
- Place Darcy (Darcy Square) and Porte Guillaume (Guillaume Gate)
- Jardin Darcy (Darcy Garden)
- Les Halles centrales de Dijon (Central Market of Dijon)
- Monument Sadi Carnot (Sadi Carnot Monument)
- Musée d’Art sacré (Museum of Sacred Art)
- Église Saint-Philibert de Dijon (Saint-Philibert Church of Dijon)
- FRAC Bourgogne (FRAC Burgundy)
- Other destinations near Dijon
Why visit Dijon?
- Gateway to Burgundian culture – As the capital of historic Bourgogne (Burgundy) and the modern administrative region Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Dijon is a gateway to this unique region in eastern France.
- Free museums – All of Dijon’s public museums are free. There are some very good ones, including the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon (Dijon Museum of Fine Arts) and the Musée de la Vie bourguignonne (Museum of Burgundian Life).
- Hotspot for gastronomy – Dijon is considered a great city for foodies, with excellent restaurants for all budgets, as well as the Cité internationale de la gastronomie et du vin (International City of Gastronomy and Wine).
How long to stay in Dijon?
I would recommend staying in Dijon for at least three days to give yourself enough time to see the city’s key sights.
While Dijon is not a huge city in terms of size, it is densely packed with sights. As the museums are free, you might also want to give yourself extra time to visit them.
Top 22 sights in Dijon, France
Wondering what to see in Dijon? You’ve come to the right place! I’ve triede to list the sights in Dijon more or less in order of importance, but of course, you should choose what to see based on your own interests. The city is compact and can be explored on foot.
Palais des ducs et des États de Bourgogne (Palace of the Dukes and Estates of Burgundy)
Dijon was part of the Duchy of Burgundy beginning in the ninth century, and the dukes who ruled this duchy built a castle as their seat. Beginning in the 14th century, the huge complex that makes up the Palais des ducs et des États de Bourgogne (Palace of the Dukes and Estates of Burgundy) was built, renovated and added to over centuries on this site.
Today, the complex houses the town hall, the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon (Dijon Museum of Fine Arts), the municipal archives and the Office de Tourisme (Tourist Office). The sprawling Place de la Libération (Liberation Square), which lies in front of the palace, is also a popular meeting place.
The 46-metre Tour de Philippe le Bon (Philip the Good Tower) was finished in 1455, and can be climbed for a fee as part of a guided visit available in English and French. You’ll take about 45 minutes to climb the 316 steps, at the top of which you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views over the city. Inquire at the Office de Tourisme (Tourist Office) in the palace complex for timetables and ticket reservations.
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon (Dijon Museum of Fine Arts)
There are fine arts museums in virtually every major French city, but the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon (Dijon Museum of Fine Arts) is special–and not just because it’s free to visit!
It is housed in the Palais des ducs et des États de Bourgogne (Palace of the Dukes and Estates of Burgundy)—when you’re facing the palace, walk as far as you can to the right-hand side of the complex and you’ll see the entrance to the museum.
With a collection of over 1,500 works of art on display at any given time, the museum is huge. Its most famous hall is probably the one in which the tombs of the Dukes of Burgundy are housed, known as the salle des tombeaux (hall of the tombs).
Originally built as a luxurious dining room where banquets were held for the rich and famous, today, the Gothic-style hall houses the ornate tombs of Dukes of Burgundy Philip the Bold (Philippe le Hardi) and Jean sans Peur (John the Fearless).
Cathédrale Saint-Bénigne de Dijon (Cathedral of Saint Benignus of Dijon)
Dijon’s cathedral is an impressive Gothic structure whose roof is covered in the type of multi-coloured tiling that is now iconic in Burgundy.
The sarcophagus of Saint Bénigne (Saint Benignus) is believed to lie in the crypt, dating back to 511, over which the first iteration of the church was built in 535. Over the years, the church has undergone numerous upgrades and reconstruction.
Église Notre-Dame de Dijon (Notre-Dame Church of Dijon) and the owl of Dijon
Although cathedrals tend to receive all the attention from church-visiting travellers, Église Notre-Dame de Dijon (Notre-Dame Church of Dijon) steals the show. This Gothic structure dating back to the 12th century has a striking rectangular façade dominated by rows of gargoyles.
But the church is arguably most famous for its owl—a little stone carving on the façade of the church’s exterior, on the very aptly-named Rue de la Chouette (Street of the Owl). That would be the façade on the left, when you’re standing facing the church’s front entrance.
The owl is said to grant wishes when its face is stroked with the left hand. Thanks to this little carving, owls are now one of the symbols of Dijon.
Hôtel de Vogüé (De Vogüé Hotel)
This impressive building on 8 rue de la Chouette isn’t a hotel in the English sense of the world. Rather, it was a private mansion purchased by a wealthy advisor to parliament in 1614. The architectural style of the building complex is a nod to the Italian Renaissance. It was later acquired by the de Vogüé family and is public property today. The complex consists of three houses, and the courtyard and main hall are accessible to the public.
Place François Rude (François Rude Square)
Taking a stroll in the historic city centre of Dijon is a must for any visitor. While there is no shortage of beautiful streets in Dijon, Place François Rude (François Rude Square) is one of the most recognisable places in town, and also a favourite spot for photo-taking, thanks to the striking red half-timbered house standing just behind the fountain.
The fountain, called Fontaine du Bareuzai (Fountain of the Bareuzai), is topped by a bronze sculpture of a grape harvester crushing the grapes under his feet to make wine, an allusion to Burgundy’s rich wine-making tradition.
Rue des Forges (Street of the Foundries)
I’m not going to point out every single beautiful street in Dijon’s historic centre, but I think Rue des Forges (Street of the Foundries) deserves a special mention thanks to its concentration of magnificent buildings.
Hôtel Aubriot (Aubriot Hotel), located at 40 rue des Forges, is the most recognisable thanks to its typical colourful Burgundian roof, and dates back to the 13th century. Also check out Maison Maillard (Maillard House) at 38 rue des Forges, with its intricate Renaissance façade, and the Flamboyant Gothic Hôtel Chambellan (Chambellan Hotel) at 34 and 36 rue des Forges.
Musée archéologique de Dijon (Archaeological Museum of Dijon)
If you’re interested in the history of Dijon from prehistory to the Middle Ages, the Musée archéologique de Dijon (Archaeological Museum of Dijon) is a must-visit. Entry is free.
The museum building was previously the Abbaye Saint-Bénigne (Saint Benignus Abbey). There are three floors altogether, and you can visit the Gothic vault and monks’ dormitory, where the medieval collection is housed, as well as the scriptorium, which is on the lowest floor and is easy to miss. To get to the scriptorium, take the stairs leading downstairs from the ticket counter.
Musée Rude (Rude Museum)
This tiny museum, which is free to visit, displays works of the Dijon sculptor François Rude, and is also an archaeological site of the ancient Gallo-Roman castrum. It occupies part of what used to be the Église Saint-Étienne (Saint-Étienne Church).
François Rude is best known for sculpting part of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. That work, called Le Départ des volontaires de 1792 (The Departure of the Volunteers of 1792), popularly known as La Marseillaise (The Marseillaise), was reproduced following a request from the French government as they thought the Arc de Triomphe would be destroyed during the Second World War. In the end, it wasn’t, and the copy thus found its home in the Musée Rude (Rude Museum).
Musée Magnin (Magnin Museum)
This museum, which is free to visit, displays the art collection of wealthy individual Maurice Magnin and his sister Jeanne, who lived and died in the 19th to 20th centuries. It is housed in their private mansion, the Hôtel Lantin (Lantin Hotel).
More than the paintings, I found the visit to the sumptuous Hôtel Lantin (Lantin Hotel) even more interesting. You can also spend some time in the private courtyard.
Église Saint-Michel (Saint Michael’s Church)
This church, located just down the road from the Musée Rude (Rude Museum), dates back to the 16th century and is known for its Renaissance façade. Note the intricate carvings over three main doors at the entrance.
Musée de la Vie bourguignonne (Museum of Burgundian Life)
I honestly believe this museum is a must-visit! It recreates life-size scenes from the Burgundy of the past so you can see up close the kinds of costumes, homes, businesses and public spaces that were typical in the past. The museum even recreates a commercial street in the Dijon of the past. It’s free to visit and deserves at least an hour or two.
Cité internationale de la gastronomie et du vin (International City of Gastronomy and Wine)
The Cité internationale de la gastronomie et du vin was created as a sort of cultural and commercial centre for food and wine. Dijon is considered a major city for gastronomy, and the region is the birthplace of boeuf bourguignon (beef bourguignon), one of the most popular dishes at French dining tables.
Entry is free, but events are sometimes paid. It can be interesting to visit if you are looking for edible souvenirs or want to participate in events such as cooking classes. There is also a nice chapel on the grounds of the complex.
Moutarde Maille Dijon (Maille Mustard Dijon)
Dijon is best known for its mustard, and Maille is the most visible mustard brand in France. There is a beautiful Moutarde Maille shop in the centre of town at 32 Rue de la Liberté, open since 1845. It’s often packed with tourists eager to sample the various mustard flavours.
Jardin de l’Arquebuse (Garden of the Arquebus)
This is one of the city’s biggest, most beautiful and most popular public parks, and is also a major destination in Dijon for science and nature lovers.
It houses the Muséum d’histoire naturelle de Dijon (Dijon Museum of Natural History) and the Planétarium Hubert Curien (Hubert Curien Planetarium), both of which are free to visit, except for screenings at the planetarium.
Place Darcy (Darcy Square) and Porte Guillaume (Guillaume Gate)
Place Darcy (Darcy Square) is a striking 19th-century square in the city centre. Its most recognisable landmark is the Porte Guillaume (Guillaume Gate), which dates back to the 18th century and occupies the site of an older medieval gate.
Jardin Darcy (Darcy Garden)
This public park is home to a sumptuous 19th-century Neo-Renaissance reservoir that was originally intended to provide the city with potable water. It was adorned with an intricate monument in 1880, and the park was later built around it.
Les Halles centrales de Dijon (Central Market of Dijon)
Many cities in France have what is known as les halles, a fancy way of designating the central market. This is a great place to sample quality cuisine or sit down to an affordable meal.
Monument Sadi Carnot (Sadi Carnot Monument)
This memorial was built in 1899 in memory of the fifth president of France Sadi Carnot. It is located at Place de la République (Square of the Republic), a huge public square.
Musée d’Art sacré (Museum of Sacred Art)
This museum, which is right next door to the Musée de la Vie bourguignonne (Museum of Burgundian Life), features religious art from the Burgundian Catholic tradition, including paintings, sculptures, tapestries, as well as gold and silver objects. It is free to visit but currently closed for renovation.
Église Saint-Philibert de Dijon (Saint-Philibert Church of Dijon)
This isn’t the most important church in Dijon, but it’s located just across the road from the cathedral, and is worth a look. It’s mostly closed to the public and open only for special events such as the annual Journées du patrimoine (Heritage Days).
FRAC Bourgogne (FRAC Burgundy)
Fonds régionaux d’art contemporain (Regional Collection of Contemporary Art), or FRAC, is a government initiative that maintains collections of contemporary art throughout France. Burgundy has its own FRAC, located in Dijon, that can be visited for free at their new gallery at 21 rue de l’Arquebuse.
Other destinations near Dijon
- Beaune is a popular day trip from Dijon and can be reached in about 18 minutes by train. It is a major wine-tasting destination and famous for the Hôtel-Dieu des Hospices (General Hospital of the Hospices of Beaune).
- Besançon, the most important city in Franche-Comté, is about an hour away by train, and its citadel is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
