1. History – Dijon is a bit like Greece in the sense that it may not be a major power player in the current political arena (and thus isn’t crowded), but it holds some of the world’s most important history. Be sure to check out history museums like the Archaeological Museum of Dijon and the Museum of Burgundian Life.

  • “The province was home to the Dukes of Burgundy from the early 11th until the late 15th centuries and Dijon was a place of tremendous wealth and power, one of the great European centres of art, learning and science.” – Wikipedia

Dijon
Dijon

2. Architecture – As the capital of Burgundy, massive fortunes were spent glorifying the city, which means it’s filled to the brim with awe inspiring palaces and cathedrals.

Dijon
Dijon

Yea, we see you, Dijon.

3. Art Museums – Truly a cultural center, Dijon is home to the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Musée Magnin, Musée Rude, and the Musée d’Art Sacré just to name a few.
Dijon

4. Language – As Dijon is not a major metropolitan city, fewer people speak English.  If you’ve clicked on any of the links above, you probably noticed that most of the city’s museum’s websites do not have a version in English.  The people of Dijon are proud of their language, and whether you are looking to have meaningful conversations or just put the Rosetta Stone episode you watched on the plane to good use, you will find plenty of opportunities in Dijon!

Dijon

5. Gardens – Dijon is home to some of the most beautiful gardens in the world.  Exploring the Jardin Darcy is something you will cherish forever.

Dijon

Dijon

6. Food – Famous for its mustard, the cuisine of Dijon is world renowned for its artful combinations of flavors. Every fall, over 200,000 flock to the city for its Gastronomic Fair, which says a lot considering that the city’s population is only 150,000.

Dijon PC: Jay Kay (Lol?)

7. Wine – The wine of the region of Burgundy is so highly regarded that the region’s name has become synonymous with “the color of red wine.” I’m pretty sure I had heard of Burgundy the color long before I ever heard of Burgundy the place.
Dijon

8. Kir Lake – Dijon is probably one of the few places in the world where you can go to world-class art museums in the morning, and swim in the lake in the afternoon. Truly the best of both worlds!
Dijon