A few words about Dijon

Dijon, the historical capital of Burgundy, is situated in eastern France and has a population of about 150,000. From Paris, it can be reached by TGV for just 40 minutes.

Dijon's history can be traced back to Roman times when it was called Castrum Divionense and lay on the road from Lyon to Mainz. The town was home to the Dukes of Burgundy from the 11th to the 15th century, a center of immense wealth and power, as well as of learning and art.

Dijon is among the towns with the best preserved traditional architecture. It was spared the destruction of war, and now boasts 97 hectares of national listed monuments. A distinguishing feature of the region's architecture are the roofs made of glazed tiles in different colours arranged in geometric patterns. Stately 17th- and 18th-century mansions line the streets. Some houses have exposed timber frames.

The Ducal Palace recalls the splendour of the Burgundian court. Many famous architects contributed to its construction spanning the period from 1366 to 1786, including Jules Hardouin-Mansart. The palace houses the dukes' tombs and an art museum with a collection ranging from ancient Egyptian art to the 20th century, 15th-century Burgundian art, works by Swiss, Flemish and German primitivists, and two sculpted Gothic altarpieces. Objects related to the Golden Fleece Order created by Philippe le Bon in the 15th century can be seen in the Salle du Chapitre.

Dijon's Cathedral is dedicated to the town's patron saint, St. Benignus. He was a priest sent to preach the Gospel in Gaul in the 3rd century. He suffered persecution and martyrdom, and was buried at Dijon. In the early 6th century, Bishop Saint Gregory had his tomb restored, and built a basilica over it. The sarcophagus of St. Benignus can still be seen in the cathedral's crypt. The cathedral is a masterpiece of Burgundian architecture designed by master Gugliemo de Volpiano of Piedmont. Its bell tower is 93 metres high and is the most spectacular of the numerous bell towers in Dijon (they say their number is about a hundred!).

A transept in the church of St. Etienne houses the Rude Museum: casts of works by the Dijon-born sculptor Francois Rude, including a cast of a famous bas-relief on the Triumphal Arch in Paris known as "the Marseillaise", mythological scenes, busts and historical compositions.

The church of the Monastery of the Bernardines contains a Museum of Sacred Art. Paintings, sculptures, furniture and liturgical clothing and ornaments are exhibited.

The Magnin Museum at the Hotel Lantin, a fine 17th-century building, presents the delightful private collection of Jeanne and Maurice Magnin, bequeathed to the state in 1938.

Dijon is the site of an annual theatre festival, a festival of contemporary dance, a festival of Baroque and Romantic chamber music, an international folklore festival, and a gastronomic fair.

Dijon is a destination for gourmets and wine-lovers, famous for its mustard and for the exquisite wines of Burgundy. The mustard is strong and comes in different textures and flavours. You cab buy some in hand-painted china jars as a souvenir. The wines are among the finest in the world. The countryside around Dijon is covered with vineyards and picturesque villages with old churches, a heaven for wine tourism.

Did you know that the famous drink Kir Royal (champagne with blackcurrant liqueur) was created by a former mayor of Dijon named Felix Kir? Prepared with white wine instead of champagne, it is called simply Kir. It is no coincidence that it was invented in Dijon as the region is renowned for its blackcurrant liqueur (creme de cassis).