Things to Do in Dijon

Housed in the Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy, Musee des Beaux- Arts is one of the oldest museums in France. Founded in 1787, the Age of Enlightenment, the museum incorporates the collections of Francois Devosge. His collections have found a space in the museum ever since 1787. What makes Musee des Beaux-Arts a world famous museum is its range of encyclopaedic collections, which vary from Egyptian art to the 20th century. Inside the museum, you will find:

• Sculptures
• Paintings
• Art objects and other items of antiquity

The museum houses two rooms:

• The Statues Room – meant to house sculptures.
• Salon Conde – room devoted to paintings and it celebrates the glory of the Condes, governors of Burgundy.

The attractions of museum are:

• The remains of Court of Dukes of Burgundy featuring the famous tombs of Philip the Bold, John the Fearless and Margaret of Bavaria.
• Egyptian antiquities
• Roman art from Switzerland and Germany
• Famous works from the Renaissance, 17th and 18th centuries
• Works of the Sculptor Pompon
• Modern art
• Works representing the school of Paris

Apart from the attractions, you can also spend time in:

• Museum library: It holds around 18,000 volumes and a documentary collection about the history of art.
• Bookshop boutique: You can find books related to the collections inside.
• Graphic arts office: It houses fragile items such as drawings, engravings, pastels, gouaches and miniatures. But this room is open only for researchers. 

Considered to be the “Grand Dame” of Dijon churches, Notre-Dame cathedral was built between 1230 and 1250, displaying the Burgundian Gothic style. Inside the Chapel, you can see:

• Black Virgin: this 11th century wood sculpture is considered to be the oldest piece of its own kind in France.
• Altar cloth which displays a fine tapestry.
• Modern tapestry which depicts the unsuccessful siege of 1513 and the liberation of 1944.

Outside the church, you can have a look at:

• Sculpture of an Owl: known as the good luck charm. You can follow the tradition of Dijon by touching the Owl’s left hand and making a wish.
• Triple row of gargoyles presenting a grotesque figure.
• Clock tower created in 1383 featuring beautiful jacquemarts, mechanical figures that chime the church bells. 

Dedicated to Saint Benigne of Dijon, this cathedral is the national monument of France. Historically significant, the cathedral served as the seat of the Bishopric of Dijon during the French Revolution. The structure is built in Gothic style with rib vaults and pointed arches. This twin-towered building houses a Romanesque doorway and pre-Romanesque capitals from the abbey upon which the Church was constructed between 1280 and 1314. The features of this cathedral are:

• A large crypt which houses the architectural structure of the original Romanesque Abbey.
• An archaeological museum which exhibits a collection of Roman and medieval antiquities.

Situated in the cloister of the former Bernardine convent, this museum displays a collection of rural and urban ethnography such as country costumes and furniture. The museum occupies three floors that feature:

• Ground Floor: It displays rural and Burgundian ethnographic heritage at the end of nineteenth century.
• First Floor: featuring everyday life in Dijon from the end of 18th century to the Second World War.
• Second floor: It features a gallery devoted to the characteristics of Burgundian life along with a reading room and an audiovisual room.

Apart from looking at these displays, you can also visit the museum shop and library. The museum offers workshops on subjects such as the traditional school, childhood, tales and legends. 

The Ducal Palace was built between 1450 and 1455 which included apartments, reception rooms and out house rooms housing ducal kitchens. Situated in the centre of city, the Palace today serves as the city halls with the mayor’s office and other administrative offices. Preserved and rebuilt in 17th and 18th centuries, this palace displays French Baroque architecture. You must see this historic monument as it beams with grandeur and decorative styles. The features of this Palace are:

• Tour de Bar: The oldest feature with an impressive height of 52 metres.
• The Palace Kitchen: featuring grand fireplaces
• Tour de Phillippe le Bon
• Musee des Beaux-Arts

Rue des Forges is one of the most well known streets in Dijon famous for its 15th century mansions and houses. Walking down the street, the travellers would come across:

• Dijon Tourist Office: From where you can collect information and literature of the city.
• Hotel Morel : Sauvegrain
• Hotel Auriot
• Milsand house
• Hotel Chambellan: Known for its decorated staircase
• Notre Dame Cathedral

The street becomes a special point of attraction during the annual gastronomic fair. Some of its buildings are 400 – 500 years old and introduce you to the old world splendour of Dijon. The street is a part of the Owl Trail which is designed to offer its walkers a taste of Dijon’s charm, taking you back into earlier times.

Located in the centre of old Dijon, the House Milliere is a historical monument displaying Gothic architectural design of the 15th century. Built by the merchant draper Milliere Guillaume and his wife Guillemette Milliere, the building today houses a shop of handicrafts, a tea room and restaurant which offers delectable Burgundy cuisine. Situated very close to town’s greatest attractions such as Notre-Dame church and Palais des Ducs de Bourgogne, the house is a must visit for those who want to enjoy original Burgundy cuisine in a historical setting. 

Visiting Colombiere Park is a pleasant way to relax in Dijon. Beautified by the flowerbeds and green lawns, the park is laid out in a perfect symmetry. It was created by Louis II de Bourbon in 16th century and was further developed by his grandson Henri-Jules who designed it by planting trees. The features of this park are:

• Remains of the Via Agrippa: it is a Roman road running through the middle of the park.
• The 17th century Temple of Love: a sundial which originally belonged to Chateau de Bierre- les- Semur, re-erected in this park in 1827.
• A circular path: the 16 star- configuration paths are intersected by an octagonal path.
• Children’s playground.
• Animal enclosures.
• 6000 trees, flower beds, wild flowers. 

Known for selling the famous Dijon Mustard, Maille Boutique represents the culture of Dijon as it is heavily defined by its mustard. Maille, the brand has three boutiques in Europe - Paris, Dijon sand London – all of which sell mustard in the traditional Maille fashion. With 36 kinds of mustards, this boutique is emblematic of Dijon tradition. Present at Rue de la Liberty ever since 1845, it is a must visit for those who would like to collect and take away the samples of mustard back home. Its windows exhibit the 19th century ceramic mustard jars defining Maille’s distinguished pedigree. 

Stretching over 5.5 hectares, the Arquebuse serves as a botanical garden, arboretum and park.  Founded by the scientist Benigne Legouz de Gerland, the botanical garden houses and cultivates around 3500 indigenous species of plants. A great place to relax, the garden reflects natural charm with flower borders and lawns along with alleys shaded by a variety of tree species. The botanical garden features:

• Near 4000 species of plants: its collection includes French native plants, specimens of ornamental plants, food plants, succulents, carnivorous plants, subtropical plants, Mediterranean plants and special space for the flora of Bourgogne.
• A herbarium containing 10,000 specimens
• Greenhouses
• A school of botany
• An extensive collection of Anatidae( wild ducks, geese and swans)

This national museum displays a wide range of collection of around 2000 works of arts that were collected by Maurice Magnin and his wife Jeanne. The museum was bequeathed to the state in 1937 and has ever since then attracted the visitors who come to France to admire its antiquity. Housed in a 17th century hotel particulier (a grand townhouse), the museum is situated in the old-town quarter of Dijon. The collection inside include:

• Objects of art: notable sculpture of Bernini’s Blessed Ludovica Albertoni
• 1300 paintings: By French and Italian artists
• 700 drawings
• Master prints

You can also visit museum’s boutique and find postcards, souvenirs and reproductions of art works.

Les Halles Market is one of France’s largest and popular markets owing to the variety of products that it sells. The market was designed in 19th century by Gustava Eiffel, the one who designed Eiffel Tower in Paris as well. Today, the market has almost everything to sell to its visitors ranging from meats, candies, cheese to fruits, vegetables and pastries. Offering you an insider’s perspective to French world, the market is held every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The culture of food comes alive with this open market. Filled with the bustle of commercial cries, the market emanates old world charm of trade and commerce. The structure is completely built with steel and glass allowing natural light to enter into its space. With a tradition and reputation that goes back to hundreds of years, a view of market shall give you a perfect image of Burgundy’s gourmet lifestyle.

The history of the church of St. Michael in Dijon dates back to the 16th century. Its architecture is a beautiful confluence of the Gothic and the Renaissance styles. The presence of the two forms is evident with the apse, the choir, the nave and transept which display Gothic style and the facade and domed towers which display Renaissance form of art. Your eyes shall be captured by the beauty of:

• Windows arranged over four floors: they represent the three arch angels Raphael, Gabriel and Michael
• Carved columns
• Balustrade on which stands a lantern adorned with a bronze ball
• Porch of the church which has three portals
• Series of busts of prophets
• Four paintings of Franz Kraus, German painter of the 17th century
• The Chapel which houses the fragment of the Entombment dating from the 15th century

An ideal place for leisure activities, Kir Lake is one of the most beautiful artificial lakes in France. Named after Canon Felix Kir, mayor of Dijon from 1945 to 1968, the lake offers opportunities for the visitors to walk around, fish and swim. Visiting the lake is a perfect way to take a break from the town centre. 

Located at the western edge of Dijon, Chartreuse de Champmol once served as the burial place of the Dukes of the House of Valois. Today it houses a psychiatric clinic. The site displays a church door with magnificent sculptures and the famous “Well of Moses”. They serve as significant examples of medieval art. Moreover, they are the only two surviving artworks of Claus Sluter. Situated on the outskirts of Dijon, Champmol was a Carthusian monastery consisting of a church, a ducal oratory, ducal tombs and a courtyard bordered by small houses.The Well of Moses is a hexagonal well with columns elaborately decorated topped by angels and statues. These statues depict the Six Testament prophets: Moses, Isaiah, Daniel, Zechariah, Jeremiah and David.