Sights in Dijon
- Sort by:
- Popular
-
A
Musée des Beaux-Arts
Housed in the eastern wing of the Palais des Ducs, these sprawling galleries make up one of the most outstanding museums in France. The rooms themselves are works of art and a special chance to be inside this monumental building.
The star is the wood-panelled Salle des Gardes (Guards' Room), once warmed by a gargantuan Gothic fireplace. It houses the ornate, carved late-medieval sepulchres of dukes John the Fearless and Philip the Bold (by Jean de Marville, Claus Sluter and Claus de Werve), as well as three impossibly intricate gilded Gothic retables from the 1300s. Rogier Van der Weyden's portrait of Philip the Good hangs here as well.
The modern and contemporary art…
reviewed
-
B
Palais des Ducs et des États de Bourgogne
Once home to Burgundy's powerful dukes, this monumental palace is the focal point of old Dijon. Given a neoclassical facade in the 17th and 18th centuries while serving as the seat of the States-General (Parliament) of Burgundy, it overlooks place de la Libération, a magnificent semicircular public square designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart (one of the architects of Versailles) in 1686.
The western wing is occupied by Dijon's Hôtel de Ville (City Hall). Inside the arch that's across the street from 92 rue de la Liberté is Escalier Gabriel (1730s), a grand marble stairway with gilded railings that's named after its architect.
The eastern wing houses the outstanding Musée…
reviewed
-
C
Cathédrale St-Bénigne
Situated above the tomb of St Benignus (who is believed to have brought Christianity to Burgundy in the 2nd century), this Gothic-style church with multicoloured roof tiles was built around 1300 as an abbey church. Some of Burgundy's great figures are buried here. The crypt is all that remains of an 11th-century Romanesque basilica and is a maze of arched tunnels, carved capitals and inlaid floors. Guided tours are available.
reviewed
-
Puits de Moïse
This famous grouping of six Old Testament figures, carved from 1395 to 1405 by court sculptor Claus Sluter and his nephew Claus de Werve, has been open to individual visitors since summer 2010, or can be seen on a guided tour with the tourist office. It is on the grounds of a psychiatric hospital 1.2km west of the train station; by bus take Line 3 toward Fontaine d'Ouche.
reviewed
-
D
Musée Archéologique
Truly surprising Celtic, Roman and Merovingian artefacts are displayed here, including a particularly fine 1st-century-AD bronze of the Celtic goddess Sequana standing on a dual-prowed boat. Upstairs, the early Gothic hall (12th and 13th centuries), with its ogival arches held aloft by two rows of columns, once served as the dormitory of a Benedictine abbey.
reviewed
-
E
Église St-Michel
Originally Gothic, this church subsequently underwent a facade-lift operation in which it was given a richly ornamented Renaissance west front. Its two 17th-century towers are topped with cupolas and, higher still, glittering gold spheres.
reviewed
-
F
Hôtel de Vogüé
Behind Église Notre Dame, the 17th century Hôtel de Vogüé is renowned for the ornate carvings around its exquisitely proportioned Renaissance courtyard. It’s worth walking through the pink stone archway for a peek.
reviewed
-
Musée Magnin
Jeanne and Maurice Magnin turned their historic town house over to the state to display their excellent art collection in perpetuity. Works include fine examples of the Italian Renaissance and Flemish and medieval painting.
reviewed
-
G
Tour Philippe le Bon
Located just off the Cour d’Honneur, the 46m-high, mid-15th-century Tour Philippe le Bon affords fantastic views over the city. On a clear day you can see all the way to Mont Blanc.
reviewed
-
H
Maison Millière
Figures of an owl and a cat perch high atop the roof of the 15th-century Maison Millière, which was a setting in the 1990 film Cyrano de Bergerac with Gérard Depardieu.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
I
Musée de la Vie Bourguignonne
Housed in a 17th-century Cistercian convent, this museum explores village and town life in Burgundy in centuries past with evocative tableaux illustrating dress and traditional crafts. Down the alley to the right as you exit the cloister, the Musée d'Art Sacré displays gleaming Catholic ritual objects from the 12th to 19th centuries inside the convent's copper-domed chapel (1709).
reviewed
-
Hôtel Chambellan
Go inside the truly splendid 17th-century Hôtel Chambellan, from whose courtyard a spiral stone staircase leads up to remarkable vaulting.
reviewed
-
Musée d’Art Sacré
Displays gleaming Catholic ritual objects from the 12th to 19th centuries.
reviewed
-
J
Musée de la Moutarde
Homage to Dijon's most famous export can be paid at the Musée de la Moutarde. Reserve at the tourist office.
reviewed
-
K
Maison des Cariatides
Maison des Cariatides, its facade a riot of stone caryatids, soldiers and vines, is quite fine.
reviewed
-
L
Maison Maillard
The Renaissance-style Maison Maillard is all garlands and lions.
reviewed
-
Parks & Gardens
Dijon has plenty of green spaces that are perfect for picnics, including Jardin Darcy and Jardin de l'Arquebuse, the botanic gardens, with a stream and pond.
reviewed
-
Hôtels Particuliers
Many of Dijon's finest houses lie north of the Palais des Ducs on and around rue Verrerie, rue Vannerie and rue des Forges, whose names reflect the industries that once thrived there (glassmaking, basket-weaving and metalsmithery, respectively). The early-17th-century Maison des Cariatides, its facade a riot of stone caryatids, soldiers and vines,is particularly fine. A bit to the west you'll find the 13th-century Hôtel Aubriot and the Renaissance-style Maison Maillard, all garlands and lions. Go inside the truly splendid 17th-century Hôtel Chambellan, from whose courtyard a spiral stone staircase leads up to remarkable vaulting.
Behind Église Notre Dame, the 17th-…
reviewed
-
M
Hôtel Aubriot
reviewed
-
Église Notre Dame
A block north of the Palais des Ducs, Église Notre Dame was built between 1220 and 1240. The extraordinary facade's three tiers are lined with leering gargoyles separated by two rows of pencil-thin columns. The interior has a vast transept and 13th-century stained glass. High atop the church, the 14th-century Horloge à Jacquemart (Jacquemart Clock) was transported from Flanders in 1383 by Philip the Bold, who claimed it as a trophy of war. It chimes every quarter-hour.
reviewed
Advertisement