Dijon, France
Dijon is the capital city of the Burgundy region in eastern France. It is highly regarded for its vineyards, diverse architecture ranging from Gothic to Art Deco, and wonderful Dijon Mustard.
Dijon was once a Roman settlement named Divio, located on the road between Lyon and Paris.
For a walking guide to the city, check out our Self-Guided City Walk of Dijon.
Burgundy was a great power during the 14th and 15th centuries, when the Dukes controlled a large part of what is now northeastern France, western Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. As a result, beautiful buildings were constructed in Dijon, and the city is so compact it is an easy walk to see them.
Dijon is famous for Dijon mustard, which originated in 1856, when Jean Naigeon substituted verjuice, the acidic “green” juice of not-quite-ripe grapes, for vinegar in the traditional mustard recipe.
The historical centre of the city has been registered since July 4, 2015, as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The distinguished 1787 Musée des Beaux-Arts, housed in the vast Palace of the Dukes, holds a rich collection of paintings, sculptures, crafts and antiquities.
Construction of the Church of Notre-Dame of Dijon began around 1230. There are 51 gargoyles decorating the façade and are a little spooky to look up at.
We visited Dijon on a road trip through France, you can read about our visit here.