Have you ever thought to visit Dijon, France when traveling to Burgundy’s wine region? If so, you’re making an excellent choice! This bustling city offers a wide array of activities. Its beautiful old town center is perfectly preserved. Plus, the majority of the downtown area is pedestrian-friendly which makes for great sightseeing strolls!
Journey just two hours from the glamour of Paris to Dijon, and bask in its abundance of attractions. Savour Burgundy’s culture as you explore this vibrant city; an article highlighting many must-see places ensures your trip is unforgettable!
For the adventurous and food connoisseurs who would love to explore the Route des Grands Crus, Winalist help you find the best wine tours and tastings in Burgundy wine regions. Let us plan your perfect experience! We’ll help you understand where to stay in Dijon, Dijon gastronomy, and much more during your Burgundy escapade. Let’s begin!
Top 4 historic places in Dijon: an ideal circuit for a 1-day visit
Do you want to discover Dijon? Here is a selection of places and monuments to absolutely see during your stay.
1. The Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy
Taking a trip to Dijon would be incomplete without visiting this UNESCO World Heritage Site, formerly home of the Dukes of Burgundy and Kings. Sitting majestically on Place de la Liberation is an impressive palace that cannot go unacknowledged – it’s truly a sight to behold!
Spanning a millennium, the awe-inspiring Palace of the Dukes in Dijon stands as a testament to centuries of political life. Not only does it house the city hall, but also features its own Fine Arts Museum – and you can even explore certain areas for yourself!
- Tourists may unlock the secrets of the Palais des Etats through guided tours provided by The Tourist Office or during select cultural events, all accessed via The Cour de Flore.
- Step inside the museum to witness firsthand the grandeur of two former ducal spaces: a sumptuous kitchen and an impressive guard room, once used as a reception hall.
- The Philippe Le Bon Tower provides the best view of Dijon- standing at a height of 46 meters, it is truly breathtaking. Visitors can enjoy access to this majestic tower via guided tours for an unforgettable experience.
- Lastly, the Chapelle des Élus and Salle des Etats can be explored through tickets procured from the local tourist office – a visit is highly encouraged!
2. Saint-Bénigne Cathedral in Dijon
From its inception, this ancient basilica attracted pilgrims from all over Europe to venerate the tomb of Saint Bénigne. Throughout history it has withstood fire, destruction and pillaging yet was also carefully preserved; in fact shortly after the Revolution it became a cathedral for a new diocese.
By exploring the history of Saint-Bénigne in Dijon, you can gain insight into its past. In addition, do not miss out on the opportunity to tour the Romanesque crypt – it is located at the lower level of a large rotunda and features stunning sculptures from early 11th century!
3. The Well of Moses
Sluter’s creation is incredibly lifelike, displaying the Burgundian-Flemish sculpture of the late 14th century with great excellence and detail. This piece — known as The Well of Moses — stood in the middle of a well at a former Carthusian monastery cloister and serves now as an exemplary reminder of its history.
Observe the incredible detail of the biblical figures carved with care by craftsmen of Burgundy’s court, and you will begin to recognize why they are renowned for their magnificent artistry. A tour from Well of Moses reception pavilion at 1, boulevard Chanoine Kir in Dijon can provide a unique look at this outstanding work.
Tours depart from the Well of Moses reception pavilion located at 1, boulevard Chanoine Kir in Dijon.
4. The Botanical Park of Dijon (L’Arquebuse)
The beautiful Arquebuse Park, a well-known destination among Dijon locals, spans over 5 hectares and contains a botanical garden, museum and planetarium. Inside its grounds is an impressive selection of around 1500 varieties of plants as well as 250 species of trees – truly making it the perfect place for nature lovers.
What to do at the botanical garden?
- Learn the names of plants
- Soak up the floral scents in the rose garden
- Visit the exhibitions in the Science Garden and the Planetarium
- Observe the life of bees and insects at the educational apiary
- Picnic in the expanses of grass during the beautiful summer days
Visit the surroundings of Dijon: the Burgundy vineyard
Looking for a way to explore Dijon wineries and discover the beauty of Côte d’Or? Winalist provides you with the best routes, activities, vineyards, tourist circuits in and around Dijon so that you can make most out of your visit. Uncover Burgundy wines while indulging in exquisite local delicacies prepared by winegrowers themselves – this is an opportunity not to be missed!
Indulge yourself in the exquisite beauty of Burgundy’s wine cellars, share special moments with its passionate winemakers and stock up on unforgettable memories and flavors!
The Vosne Tasting club
Immerse yourself in the center of Vosne-Romanée, an area renowned for hallmark wines such as Romanée-Conti. Discover this interactive tasting space and sample some of Burgundy’s most distinguished vintages.
Explore the enchanting village of Vosne-Romanée with our ‘Vosne Confidential’ adventure! Along your journey, you’ll discover the history behind each domain and become mesmerized by stunning views of endless vineyards. To make this experience even more memorable, you’ll get to savor 5 delectable regional wines – including one Grand Cru!
Domaine Faiveley in Nuits-Saint-Georges
Since 1825 in Nuits-Saint-Georges (30 minutes from Dijon) the Faiveley estate has been one of the most important family estates in the region for 7 generations. It extends over more than 120 hectares in Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune and Côte Chalonnaise, with in particular 12 Grands Crus and 25 Premiers Crus.
During a visit followed by a tasting, you immerse yourself in two centuries of family history and know-how. Erwan and Eve Faiveley will guide you through one of the most beautiful Côtes de Nuits estates listed on Winalist.
What to do in Dijon? The best activities
Here is a selection of ideal activities during a stay with family or friends in Dijon:
- Walks in the old city center;
- Go to Les Halles to taste the flavors of Dijon;
- Visit the famous Fallot mustard factory.
Stroll through the streets of Dijon
Go to the tourist office to do the Chouette route! This route of about an hour walk reveals in 22 stages, the main heritage points of interest of the Burgundian capital.
In Dijon, it is one of the essentials recommended to tourists passing through the city. This walk is ideal for starting a stay in Dijon, or for a quick visit to the old centre.
With or without a guide, the Chouette route is perfect for discovering the capital of the Dukes of Burgundy, and very fun for both children and parents.
Why “The Owl”? According to the myths of the region, touching the Dijon owl (11 rue de la Chouette) would ward off evil spirits. According to tradition, the sculpture of the sacred bird is touched with the left hand, keeping the right hand free to make the sign of the cross. The presence of this owl sculpted in Dijon would be a reference to the wisdom of Athena for some, and an image of the Holy Spirit for others.
Download the Parcours de la Chouette app from destinationdijon.com.
Savor the local terroir at Les Halles
The Halles centrale de Dijon are located between Place Saint-Bernard and Place de la Liberation. Frequented by locals in search of fresh quality produce, the halls are also an attraction for passing visitors.
We stroll between the superb stalls filled with authentic products from the Dijon region, and above all we taste the specialties! Typical of 19th century architecture, the building is equally elegant inside and out.
There are two ways to visit them: quietly when everything is empty to enjoy the play of light, or on market days in the bustle of merchants who come to showcase their production.
Visit the Fallot mustard factory
Located on Rue de la Chouette, the Edmond Fallot mustard factory is one of the most famous in Dijon. Mustard lovers are in heaven: there is something for every taste and every budget. There is even a tasting bar.
Since 1840, the Edmond Fallot family has been able to perpetuate good practices articulated around a high-performance industrial tool, while preserving the know-how of the mustard maker.
If you have the time to learn more about Dijon mustard, the guided tour is very interesting, and ends with a tasting of around fifteen flavored mustards.
We hope you will have an amazing time while you visit Dijon, discover the Dijon winery and explore Burgundy vineyards!
FAQ & Useful resources to visit Dijon
What is Dijon known for?
Both modern and historic, Dijon is one of the most popular cities in Burgundy for tourists. Its pedestrian city center makes walking pleasant, and you can discover most of the city in one day.
How to get to Dijon?
From Paris Gare de Lyon, the TGV allows you to reach Dijon in 1h40. By car, it will take about 3 hours. From Lyon, Dijon is 2 hours by car and 1h30 by train.
How to visit and get around Dijon?
From the tourist office in the city centre, pedestrian paths are offered to discover the essentials of Dijon: the Parcours de la Chouette, the Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy, or Les Halles as well as the parks and gardens of the center.
How many days do you need in Dijon?
Dijon is a very nice city to settle in, especially if you plan a wine trip in Burgundy. It gathers all elements that make a destination worth visiting: museums, amazing food, attractions, beautiful architecture, historical heritage and marvelous landscape. This being said, you can visit Dijon in just one day, but might regret not staying longer. The perfect compromise would be staying 3 full days.
Where to stay in Dijon?
Dijon offers many accommodations, from Luxurious hotels to more simple ones, in the city-center or in remote districts, you will find what you wish for. Check out on here where you can settle in Dijon!
Where to taste Dijon gastronomy?
On top of being a well-known city for a much appreciated gastronomy – actually one of the French gastronomy capitals with Lyon – foreign tourists confirm this reputation and praise Dijon’s cuisine by making it a top destination in Burgundy for this reason. In Dijon you will find many place to eat delicious specialties:
– Les Halles centrales: the best place to find all Burgundy local food treasures, perfect for your Burgundy picnic!
– Le Gourmet Dijon:
– Michelin restaurants not too expensive: Parapluie, L’Essentiel;
– Stared restaurants such as Loiseaux des Ducs;
– Pain d’Epices Mulot et Petitjean: factory and museum of French gingerbread, where you can buy the best gingerbread you have ever tasted.
