Dijon, city of the dukes of Burgundy, nut not only...
City of Dukes, International City of Gastronomy and Wine, City and Country of Art and History and doubly registered with the world heritage: within the framework of the inscription of the climats of Burgundy in July 2015 and for the gastronomic french meal as well as the cities of Tours, Rungis and Lyon...
There are many ways to discover the city, from the most classic to the most... wacky.
Here are some ideas that can be combined endlessly. But we can invent others together.
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 Ours Pompom Jardin DARCY ©CGF |  ©CGF |  Musee Archélogique Dijon © CGF |  Rue de la Chouette © J.C. Tardivon |
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 Rue Philippe Pot |  © J.C. Tardivon |
Around the ducal palace
When discovering Dijon for the first time, there is no need to go all over the historic center, 92 (227 acres) of whose 97 hectares (240 acres) are protected as remarkable heritage sites...
Behind the Dukes' Palace, in the heart of the still-active shopping center, almost the entire history of the city is revealed. There is so much to say on a very short route...
Do you know how many links with the city of Paris are possible? How many links with New-York? How many links with US or England?
Apart "mustard", what are (all) the other specialties of Dijon?
And the owl, our famous owl about which we hear just about everything but certainly not the truth?
It is a visit that is constantly re-inventing according to you in reality.
Duration :
About 2h
Private guided tour only :
150 €(1)
By réservation only. Check availability on the calendar below.
(1) Price is incompressible up to 15 people. Additional charge of 5 € per person from the 16th person up to 25 people maximum.
Saint-Bénigne
Cathédrale
This visit takes you to the discovery of St Bénigne cathedral and its 11th century Romanesque rotunda.
The story begins in the 6th century AD. Here extends the large cemetery to the west of the castrum (the oldest Dijon). And strange things are happening in the cemetery...
Bishop Gregory of Langres learns that a crowd of people come around a sarcophagus, and this, day and night.
Later, the historian and bishop Gregory of Tours reported that everyone crowded around the tomb: the sick, the infirm and the insane. And miracles frequently occur.
Worried that these prodigies could be the work of the devil and that the cult of this tomb was dedicated to some pagan idol, Bishop Gregory of Langres forbade its veneration.
Shortly afterwards, the person buried in this tomb appeared to him in his sleep and, on his advice, Bishop Gregory of Langres no longer forbade pilgrims to enter his tomb. He even undertook the construction of an "elegantly vaulted" church above the tomb, as he had been asked to do.
Duration
Between 1h30 ti 2h
Private guided tour only :
150 €(1)
By réservation only. Check availability on the calendar below.
(1) Price is incompressible up to 15 people. Additional charge of 5 € per person from the 16th person up to 25 people maximum.
Entrance fees to the crypt to be paid on site (about 3€/person).
Dijon to savor
Why not talking about gastronomy?
An excellent pretext to discover the city in a different way. Make the buildings reflect their history, but also take advantage of certain occasions to introduce your taste buds to the specialties of Dijon and Burgundy.
What could be better than to take advantage of the market day to talk about Dijon's specialties, Burgundian gastronomy and the splendor of the banquets of the Dukes of Burgundy? Good idea anyway as the market is held four days a week.
You think you know everything about gingerbread, mustard and crème de cassis? Want to bet?
Duration :
About 2h
Private guided tour only :
150 €(1) + 10 €/person
By réservation only. Check availability on the calendar below.
(1) Price is incompressible up to 15 people. Additional charge of 5 € per person from the 16th person up to 25 people maximum.
Museum of Fine-Arts
One of the oldest in France and the second after the Louvre.
Obviously, it is not possible to review the entire collection.
In part, in the ducal palace, it is an opportunity to take an interest in everything that concerns the dukes.
The cenotaphs ("tombs") of Philip the Bold and that of his son John the Fearless are included, of course.
But also the objects that evoke the magnificence of the ducal court, the paintings that are a pretext to talk about daily life, the organization of the banquets, and what was served at the dukes' table.
Duration:
about 1 h 1/2
Private guided tour only :
150 €(1)
By réservation only. Check availability on the calendar below.
(1) Price is incompressible up to 15 people. Additional charge of 5 € per person from the 16th person up to 25 people maximum.
Museum closed on Tuesdays. Admission to the Museum of Fine Arts is free for visitors.
John the fearless
3rd duke of Burgundy
Duke between
1404 - 1419
Reports d'échéances d'impôt :
".../...Lesdiz povres supplians sont appovris en telle manière que l’on ne poirrait presentement semer en laditte ville de quinze emines de tous grains et ne mengent chascun jour qu’un pain d’orge et d’avoine, que la plus grant partie d’eulx, achetent a ung chier pris et s’en obligent et endebtent, par quoy ilz ne nous pouvoient aucunement paier doresnavent laditte rente moiteresse…
attendu leur grant povreté et les autres choses dessus dittes, il fauldroit qu’ilz laissassent miserablement nostreditte ville et leur ancienne de demeurance…" (1)
(1) Archives départementales de la Côte d'Or - B 5774 - Comptes de la châtellenie de Rouvres en Plaine pour l'année 1417.
Glory of Dijon
Rose
To each one his own rose.
In the 19th century, many gardens spread over the Montchapet district of Dijon.
Pierre Jacotot and his son Christian, horticulturists in Dijon, crossed a tea rose with another rose called the "Souvenir de la Malmaison".
The Gloire de Dijon was awarded the gold medal of horticulture in 1853 and Empress Eugenie became its ambassador.