Things to do in Dijon
-
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 secti…
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 d…
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
-
Taste of Burgundy
8 days (Dijon)
Explore the canalways and the famous vineyards of Burgundy by bike.
Not LP reviewed
from USD$1,360 -
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
-
Le Pré aux Clercs
From the luscious lunch menu (which includes a glass of wine) to the nine-course dégustation menu, every detail is cared for at this top-notch restaurant looking out onto the Palais des Ducs. Diners stare in wonderment at concoctions like flan de foie gras with pear coulis or an 'opera' of truffles. Save room for the chocolate fondant.
reviewed
-
E
La Dame d'Aquitaine
Excellent Burgundian and southwestern French cuisine is served under the sumptuously lit bays of a 13th-century cave. Options include coq au vin rouge and magret de canard aux baies de cassis (duck's breast with blackcurrant sauce). Classical music filters through the elegant room and the wine list is extensive.
reviewed
-
F
Le Petit Roi de la Lune
A hip, younger crowd comes for French cuisine that, explains the chef, has been revisitée, rearrangée et decalée (revisited, rearranged and shifted). The hugely popular Camembert frit avec gelée de mûre (Camembert wrapped in breadcrumbs, fried, and then served with blackberry jelly) tops the list.
reviewed
-
G
Le Cercle Rhumerie Jamaïque
Decked out like a bordello, with bold-red walls and gilded mirrors, this club has live music (Cuban, jazz, rock 'n' roll) nightly from 11pm to 3am. The downstairs disco has a blue galactic ceiling and music that's as mixed as the clients' ages (mostly 20 to 40). Located 1km north of the Palais des Ducs.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
H
Café Chez Nous
This quintessentially French bar du coin (neighbourhood bar), often crowded, hides down a tiny alleyway near the covered market. Lunches are generally made with organic ingredients. Wine by the glass is a bargain (€1.20 to €2.40). Check the chalkboard for occasional dinners and live music.
reviewed
-
I
Osteria Enoteca Italiana
A lively Italian ristorante that's proud of its authentic, heaping plates of pasta (including vegetarian fettuccine), meat and fish dishes, and its scrumptious homemade desserts (think tiramisu). The decor hints at Venice, the chef's hometown, and the wine list is Italian (glass €3.50).
reviewed
-
J
La Mère Folle
Look past the over-the-top medieval decor and you'll find Burgundian specialities such as magret de canard au miel, thym et mirabelles (fillet of duck with honey, thyme and cherry plums). Weekday lunches are a steal and include terrine straight from the crock.
reviewed
-
Wine Tasting - Cote de Nuits Region with Two Cellar Visits
by Viator
Situated in the heart of Burgundy, the Cote d'Or is worthy of its name, the Golden Ridge. The autumn vineyards are rich with a myriad of colors.Today you will j…
Not LP reviewed
from USD$83.13 -
K
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
-
L
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
-
M
Le Chabrot
A relaxed wine bar and restaurant whose Burgundian and French cooking, candle-lit tables and rustic décor make it popular with gourmets and wine-lovers alike. Among the 200 vintages on the wine list: a lone Australian white.
reviewed
-
N
Moutarde Maille
When you enter the factory boutique of this mustard company, tangy odours assault your nostrils. Thirty-six kinds of mustard, like cassis or truffle and celery, include three on tap that you can sample (from €2.40 per 200ml).
reviewed
-
O
La Petite Marché
This organic restaurant serves seven types of salad and quite a few vegetarian options (as well as meat and fish); a good choice if you're tired of heavy Burgundian classics. Upstairs from an organic food shop, it also sells organic wines by the glass (€1.50).
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
Advertisement
-
P
Café de l'Univers
This ground-floor bar, with walls covered in mirrors and beer ads, has its menu on a chalkboard. In the cellar there's live music from 9pm to 1am on Friday and Saturday. Popular with students but ages are varied.
reviewed
-
Q
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
-
R
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
-
Wine Tasting - Cote de Nuits Region with One Cellar Visit
by Viator
Situated in the heart of Burgundy, the Cote d'Or is worthy of its name, the Golden Ridge. The autumn vineyards are rich with a myriad of colors.Today you will j…
Not LP reviewed
from USD$70.34 -
S
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
