Is Dijon price visiting for a day or two? Definitely, many individuals who take a barge cruise in Burgundy typically begin or finish their journey in Dijon. Sure, I do counsel staying in Dijon earlier than and even after your cruise. Whereas I might have stayed in Besançon on the finish of the cruise I took, I actually needed extra time to discover this stunning metropolis in depth. On this submit, I share some distinctive issues to do in Dijon in addition to details about a number of eating places and inns.
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1. Dijon Strolling Tour: The Dijon Owl Path
If you’re in Dijon you’re going to see the owl photos and designs in all places! Dijon’s image is the owl. It has develop into the town’s talisman and good luck appeal and dates again to Athena, the Greek goddess of knowledge. The owl symbolizes knowledge and good luck in Dijon and you’ll find it used in all places within the metropolis–as markers on the pavement to shortbread cookies!
Dijon Owl’s Path Booklet
In the event you solely have sooner or later in Dijon, I counsel you begin off your go to by stopping on the Dijon vacationer workplace to choose up the Dijon Owl’s Path booklet (Parcours de la Chouette) (4€). It offers 4 self-guided strolling excursions of Dijon.
It’s very effectively finished and the booklet is straightforward to observe and also you’ll get a wonderful overview of the town. You are able to do components of the tour or all of it. On the very least it will provide you with an concept of some historic monuments and necessary websites as you stroll round Dijon.
Whereas you should buy the booklet, there may be an app the place you possibly can obtain the maps onto your smartphone for a number of Euros; nevertheless, I couldn’t do that in Canada. Maybe as soon as you’re in France you possibly can.
The Owl’s Path Route
The primary route is the unique “Owl’s Path” and there are bronze arrows on the sidewalks and pedestrian streets that convey you to 22 stops the place you’ll uncover historic websites in Dijon. You understand you’re on the proper place if you see the bronze owl and quantity on a marker positioned on the bottom in entrance of the positioning. The booklet has a quick description and historical past of what you’re looking at.
There are 3 extra routes that discover different sections of Dijon. These have been added in 2011.
There’s one place you have to be looking out throughout your stroll, as it’s not apparent, however it does have an excellent custom. That’s “La Chouette de Dijon”.
(a) La Chouette de Dijon
On Rue de la Chouette (Owl Road) you can see cease #9 which known as “La Chouette de Dijon”. It’s essentially the most well-known “Owl” in Dijon. Right here you’ll encounter a stone sculpture of an owl that has been carved into the nook of a buttress of Notre-Dame Cathedral. Make a want if you’re there as a result of good luck is delivered to those that rub the owl with their left hand. It’s been there for hundreds of years and is now fairly worn down, owing to the hundreds of passers-by who rub the little hen.
(b) Some Highlights Alongside The Owl Path
Throughout your stroll, there shall be many locations that you simply would possibly think about stopping at for a tour or go to. They embrace:
(i) Place François Impolite: this stunning sq. with a fountain and carrousel is known as after the Dijon sculptor who’s greatest recognized for the work he did on the La Marseillaise frieze on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
(ii) Previous City Of Dijon–strolling down Rue des Forges from Place François Impolite to Place Notre Dame and at last to Place des Ducs de Bourgogne takes you thru the previous part of Dijon. It’s stuffed with cobblestone streets, half-timbered buildings, gothic structure, and Monsieur Moutarde which I discuss later on this submit.
Don’t miss the stone spiral staircase within the internal courtyard at Hôtel Chambellan (34-36 rue des Forges), a Fifteenth-century Gothic mansion that at one time was a lodge. Right this moment it’s a historic monument, a UNESCO World Heritage website, and privately owned. (Hôtel Chambellan is to not be confused with Hôtel Le Chambellan, which is a two-star lodge positioned 0.5 km to the east).
(iii) Église Notre-Dame de Dijon: you possibly can’t miss this Gothic church from the thirteenth century that takes up a considerable amount of metropolis house at Place Notre-Dame. It was deemed a historic monument in 1840 and a UNESCO World Heritage Website in 2015. What stands out are:
- 51 gargoyles on the western facade that have been made within the early Eighties
- the stained glass home windows inside the church. Solely 5 of the unique home windows made within the thirteenth century stay. within the late 1800s, extra stained glass home windows have been added by glassmaker, Édouard Didron.
(iv) Place Grangier: Whereas the submit workplace is listed on the tour, I used to be instantly struck by two different websites within the space:
- “Le Compteur du Temps” (The Time Counter) up to date sculpture by Gloria Friedmann. There are twelve clocks proven on the three metre sphere they usually inform the native time of cities from world wide. It’s topped with a sculpture of a person that’s greater than a meter excessive.
- “Hôtel des Postes” and Grangier Sq. are a part of the route; nevertheless, it’s the constructing north of this space that caught my consideration. The structure is so distinctive and it’s odd/unhappy {that a} Millet Professional sports activities retailer occupies it now. The shop is on the intersection of Rue du Château and a couple of Rue du Temple.
(v) Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon is positioned within the former former ducal palace, Palais des Ducs et des États de Bourgogne. Whereas there are a number of sections from the 14th and Fifteenth century, many of the palace is from the seventeenth and 18th century. I didn’t go contained in the museum, preferring to gaze on the grand structure and exquisite sq., Place de la Liberation.
- The Museum of Nice Arts is likely one of the oldest museums in France. It opened in 1787 and has the tombs of the Dukes of Burgundy. It’s free to enter.
- “La Tour de Bar” was in-built 1365 by Philip The Daring and I like the staircase resulting in the Tour de Bar
2. What To Do In Dijon France? Style Some Dijon Mustard!
Visiting Dijon for a day or two wouldn’t be full with out sampling some Dijon mustard. That is the town the place it originated within the Center Ages. “Moutarde de Dijon” dates again to the 1300s when the juice from unripe grapes was combined with brown mustard seeds.
Right this moment water, vinegar, white wine, and salt are added to the brown mustard seeds and 80% of the seeds come from Canada. Any nation or area can name their mustard that’s been finished within the Dijon-style, “Dijon Mustard”, but when they wish to name it “Moutarde de Bourgogne”, the seeds must be from Burgundy.
Two mustard producers which have connoisseur outlets in Dijon are La Maison Maille and Edmond Fallot. I went to each and you may pattern their large number of mustards and buy varied sizes of their merchandise. Some are extremely spicy!
(a) Moutarde Maille
La Maison Maille mustard is definitely essentially the most well-known and well-known model and it has outlets in Paris and Dijon in France and different shops all through the world. Antoine-Claude Maille opened the Paris institution, La Maison Maille, in 1747 and it grew to become the official provider to King Louis XV’s courtroom. Right this moment the Maille model is owned by Unilever.
(b) Fallot Mustard
Edmond Fallot “La Moutarderie” is a family-run enterprise began in 1840 and it’s headed by Edmond Fallot’s grandson, Marc Désarménien. The corporate has the final impartial mustard mill in Burgundy. It has boutiques in Dijon and Beaune and there are English and French-speaking excursions however these solely happen in Beaune. On the Dijon retailer, you possibly can style their varied mustards on the retailer’s “Mustard Bar”. I actually preferred the look and environment of the Fallot retailer.
(c) The Nice Mustard Scarcity Of 2022
The common French individual consumes 1 kilogram of Dijon mustard a yr and 2022 was a painful yr for the French. It was a nasty yr for mustard seed producers and Dijon mustard. The cabinets which was filled with Dijon mustard in grocery shops have been naked. Manufacturing for all French mustard makers like Maille, Fallot, Amora, and Reine de Dijon was diminished considerably because of quite a lot of world occasions.
First, there was the Russian invasion of Ukraine and shipments from there slowed. Then there was a scarcity of grain from Canada because of a warmth wave (blamed on local weather change) and drought in Saskatchewan and Alberta in 2021. As talked about, France imports about 80% of the seeds from Canada. A small proportion of seeds are produced in France.
Have issues recovered? Are you able to now discover Dijon mustard in France? Sure. Fortuitously, the harvests in France and Canada in 2022 have been exceptionally good and you’ll find the mustard in all places if you journey in France.
3. Gingerbread At Mulot & Petitjean
I LOVE gingerbread and Dijon is the place to seek out a few of the greatest. Throughout my sooner or later in Dijon earlier than my barge cruise, I actually needed to go to the Mulot & Petitjean manufacturing facility to take their tour and buy a few of their merchandise (there are additionally quite a lot of shops all through Dijon).
(a) Historical past
Gingerbread was launched to the Burgundy area by Margaret III of Flanders, spouse of Philip II of Burgundy within the 14th century. Mulot & Petitjean is the oldest gingerbread manufacturing facility in Dijon courting again to 1796. It was began by Louis Mulot and has remained within the household by means of the generations. Right this moment it’s run by quite a lot of Petitjean relations.
(b) Tour
The self-guided audio tour (8 €) is on the market in English and if you enter the primary room, you’re launched to the household and the corporate’s historical past. The “work” come to life. You’ll must expertise it to grasp what I imply.
After leaving the household room, you tour the manufacturing facility and on the finish, you’re introduced with a small plate of 4 totally different gingerbread merchandise to pattern:
- unique gingerbread–was a bit dry
- glazed-very good, chewy
- gingerbread with orange–good, softer, bit crunchy on the surface
- gingerbread with caramel–yum
Their merchandise aren’t low-cost however they’re extremely good. I bought a Mulot & Petitjean tin field, some gingerbread hearts, and a gingerbread owl (whole value: 17 €). I had supposed to take them residence for myself and as a present however sadly I ate all of them earlier than the tip of the journey as a result of they have been SO good!
4. Tour Philippe le Bon
If you’d like panoramic views of Dijon undoubtedly order tickets to go to the highest of the Philippe Le Bon Tower. (It’s solely 316 steps!). You may solely order tickets on-line, however the associated fee is affordable (5 €).
The rendezvous is in entrance of the vacationer workplace and you’re dropped at the highest of the tower by a tour information. A “tour” isn’t actually supplied. You’re simply given the chance to wander across the prime to get nice views. The period is about 45 minutes.
Tackle: Pl. des Ducs de Bourgogne, 21000 Dijon, France
5. La Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie et du Vin
Everyone knows that France is thought for gastronomy and wine and now Dijon is residence to a big, vibrant advanced celebrating the historical past, traditions, and significance of French meals and wine, with an extra concentrate on Burgundy.
“The Worldwide Metropolis of Gastronomy And Wine” is giant with outlets, wine tastings, chapels, and eating places. For a nominal charge, you possibly can achieve entry to 4 exhibition areas which might be very effectively finished and supply interactive shows and actions for adults and youngsters. I particularly loved “Panic In The Kitchen” the place I needed to make a chocolate mousse in a “digital kitchen”. You may examine this thrilling advanced on this submit: Discover La Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie et du Vin.
La Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie et du Vin
Admission: 9 Euro and it gave me entry to 4 exhibitions and I used to be given somewhat reward on the finish (I selected a mustard by Edmond Fallot).
Tackle: 12 parvis de l’Unesco, 21000 Dijon
6. Bakeries, Eating places, And Les Halles Market In Dijon
(a) Aux Délices de la Chouette
The gougère is a Burgundy specialty. They’re gentle puffs—pâte à choux—the identical pastry used to make profiteroles, cream puffs and éclairs. With gougères, Gruyère cheese is added.
The primary time I had gougères was within the city of Montbard, positioned simply northwest of Dijon. They have been a lot smaller than the one I had in Dijon (ie. the dimensions of a golf ball) and have been served with our pre-dinner drinks.
I bought this monumental gougère at Maison Blanchard’s “Aux délices de la chouette” (“To the delights of the owl”). They’re positioned on the identical avenue as “La Chouette de Dijon”. Their gougère was as large as my hand and should have been at the very least 5 inches in diameter. Comté cheese was added to their recipe and some years in the past they received first prize on the Foire de Dijon for the perfect Gougère. No shock. Whereas not low-cost, it definitely was scrumptious. (Worth: 2.4 € )
Laurent and Catherine Blanchard are true artisans and their boulangerie, patissserie artisanal has the “Boulanger de France” label. Along with choosing up a gougère or two, don’t miss out on getting one of many owl-designed shortbread cookies (La Chouette Huguette) or breads.
Tackle: 27, rue de la chouette, Dijon
(b) Monsieur Moutarde Cocktail Bar
Monsieur Moutarde is a well-liked restaurant with a pleasant terrace within the again. I needed to test it out so I had a few drinks and an appetizer. Personally, I feel it’s overpriced and would undoubtedly not suggest getting an appetizer. Whereas referred to as a “Seafood roll” with a drawing of a chunk of sushi, it was nothing prefer it.
The outline of the seafood roll in English: baked buttered sandwich bread (principally a small brioche loaf), crayfish, crab meat, recent spinach shoots, white butter sauce, and pea shoots. I ought to have recognized higher.
Simply order a drink. The wines particularly are very moderately priced. I had this scrumptious cocktail:
- Their signature Air Mail cocktail (elements: 5 yr El Dorado rum, lime juice, honey syrup, Prosecco) -12 €
- Vin rosé du Second-5 €
- Appetizer: Seafood roll-15 €
Price: 32 €
Tackle: 40 Rue des Forges, 21000 Dijon, France
(c) Dr. Wine Restaurant
Though Dr. Wine will get excessive scores I used to be dissatisfied with a few of the meals. The worth for the wine was cheap however I’ve combined evaluations on the meals. Maybe in the event you order one thing totally different from what I ordered, you’ll be completely satisfied. You will have reservations.
I sat in the back of the restaurant which has a stunning terrace. They serve tapas-like dishes. I had:
- 6 escargot–superb: scorching, garlicky, buttery
- Boeuf Bourguignon–it was small and served in a small pot (coquette?). Whereas it was salty, the feel was glorious (beef falls aside) and had mashed potatoes. I simply wasn’t loopy in regards to the presentation. Surprisingly, there was a variety of meals in that container.
- Dessert: profiteroles with praline mousse, chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream. No whipped cream. The cream puff was not crispy. It was soggy and there was an excessive amount of chocolate sauce.
- -I had a glass of white wine (Bourgogne Aligoté) and glass of crimson wine (Bourgone Épineuil 2020). Each have been glorious
Price: 40.5 €
Tackle: 5 Rue Musette, 21000 Dijon, France
(d) Les Halles Historic Meals Market
The principle meals market in Dijon is Les Halles, positioned within the centre of Dijon. It’s housed within the unique constructing that was constructed within the late 1800s and has now been restored.
It jogs my memory of Les Halles in Lyon the place you discover produce, cheese, meat, seafood, patisserie, boulangerie, and vegetable distributors in addition to wine bars and cafés. There’s additionally plenty of ready, meals which makes it significantly standard for these desirous to do take out.
The hours are fairly restricted and the one time I might go to was at 8:30 on a Thursday morning. The distributors have been nonetheless organising their stalls, so I used to be a bit dissatisfied there wasn’t extra occurring and open.
Opening Hours:
You should definitely try the opening days and occasions.
Thursday (7:30-1:00 pm)-Indoor Market solely
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday (7:30-1:00 pm)-Indoor and out of doors markets
Wednesday, Sunday, Monday-Closed
The place To Keep In Dijon
Earlier than my barge cruise, I stayed at Hôtel des Halles, and after the cruise at Ibis Kinds Dijon Central. I’d suggest each.
1. Hôtel des Halles
Dijon is a really walkable metropolis and the placement of my lodge, Hôtel des Halles (often known as Hôtel Montigny) was nice, only some minutes to stroll to the town centre. It was very clear, trendy, and cozy however it was a minimalist lodge room. I selected it as a result of it wasn’t removed from the practice station and from the place I dropped off my automotive.
I had breakfast on the terrace they usually had croissants, baguettes, cereals, yogurt, fruit, juice, and a collection of scorching drinks (varied coffees and teas).
Take a look at the perfect costs right here: Hôtel des Halles
Tackle: 8 Rue Montigny, 21000 Dijon, France
2. Ibis Kinds Dijon Central
You may’t beat the placement of the Ibis Kinds Central Resort. It’s positioned within the centre of Dijon, across the nook from rue de la Liberté, which has quite a few well-known outlets and eating places. It’s additionally solely a 3-minute stroll to the Les Halles Market and 5 minutes to the vacationer workplace.
The room was clear, spacious, quiet, trendy, and missed Place Grangier. Breakfast was in depth with plenty of cheese, meat, breads, fruits, crêpes, bacon, and eggs. On future journeys, I’d undoubtedly keep right here once more.
Take a look at the perfect costs right here: Ibis Kinds Dijon Central
Tackle: 3 Pl. Grangier, 21000 Dijon
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