Dijon was the capital of the Valois Dukes of Burgundy, who for more than a century ran one of the richest courts in Europe from here. Their palace, their churches and the half-timbered streets around them still make up the centre, and the city's name travels the world on jars of mustard. Here are the facts and stories behind it.
10 fun facts about Dijon
- A duchy richer than many kingdoms: from 1363 to 1477, four Valois dukes ruled from Dijon: Philip the Bold, John the Fearless, Philip the Good and Charles the Bold. By the time of Philip the Good, their lands stretched as far as Flanders and Holland.
- A palace that became a town hall: the Palace of the Dukes and Estates of Burgundy now houses both Dijon's city hall and the Musée des Beaux-Arts, where the carved tombs of Philip the Bold and John the Fearless are on display.
- A tower with 316 steps: the Tour Philippe le Bon, built between 1450 and 1460, rises 46 metres above the ducal palace. Visits to the top are by guided tour, and on a clear day the view reaches the vineyards south of the city.
- A crypt a thousand years old: under Saint-Bénigne Cathedral lies the crypt of an abbey church dedicated in 1016, built by the abbot William of Volpiano around the tomb of Saint Benignus. The Gothic church above dates from 1280 to 1325 and became a cathedral in 1792.
- An owl you touch for luck: a small owl carved on a corner of Notre-Dame church is stroked with the left hand, the side of the heart, while making a wish. After a vandal damaged it with a hammer in January 2001, it was repaired within weeks.
- Gargoyles that never drained a drop: the gargoyles on Notre-Dame's façade are purely decorative. Legend says the originals were taken down in the 13th century after one fell and killed a moneylender; the ones you see today were carved between 1880 and 1882.
- A mustard recipe, not a protected origin: in 1856 Jean Naigeon replaced vinegar with verjuice, the sour juice of unripe grapes, giving Dijon mustard its sharp taste. Since a 1937 decree, 'Dijon mustard' describes a method, so it can be made anywhere, and most of the seed now comes from Canada.
- A drink named after a mayor: Kir, white aligoté wine with a dash of crème de cassis, takes its name from Canon Félix Kir, a priest who was mayor of Dijon from 1945 to 1968 and served it at official receptions.
- A centre on the World Heritage List: since 2015 the historic centre of Dijon has been part of the UNESCO site 'Climats, terroirs of Burgundy', together with around 1,250 named vineyard plots on the slopes south of the city.
- Birthplace of Gustave Eiffel: the engineer behind the Eiffel Tower was born in Dijon in 1832. The sculptor François Rude, famous for the Marseillaise relief on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, was born here too, in 1784.
The Jacquemart and his family
Dijon's best-known story is told by a clock. In 1382, after a campaign against rebel Flemish towns, Philip the Bold's troops sacked Kortrijk and carried off its clock, complete with a bell and a figure that struck the hours. It was set up on Notre-Dame in Dijon in 1383, and the iron bell-striker came to be called Jacquemart. Local tradition says the people of Dijon felt sorry for the lonely bachelor, so in 1651 he was given a wife, Jacqueline. A son, Jacquelinet, followed around 1714 to strike the half-hours, and a daughter, Jacquelinette, in 1884 to strike the quarters. The whole family is still at work high on the church's façade.
What to eat in Dijon
- Moutarde de Dijon: the shops in the centre sell dozens of flavoured mustards alongside the classic, and a jar is the easiest souvenir to take home.
- Bœuf bourguignon: beef braised slowly in red Burgundy wine with onions, mushrooms and bacon.
- Œufs en meurette: poached eggs in a red wine sauce with bacon and onions, the classic Burgundian starter.
- Jambon persillé: ham set in parsley jelly and sliced like a terrine, traditionally eaten around Easter.
- Pain d'épices and Kir: Dijon's spiced honey bread is sold in thick loaves, and a Kir is the obvious aperitif before dinner.
Good to know before you go
- The ducal tombs are in the Musée des Beaux-Arts inside the palace. Allow at least an hour or two, and check its website before you go, as rooms sometimes close for works.
- The Cité internationale de la gastronomie et du vin opened in 2022 in a former hospital just south of the centre, with exhibitions on French food and Burgundy wine, shops and restaurants.
- Les Halles, the covered market, is at its liveliest on market mornings, especially on Saturdays. It's the place to buy cheese, mustard and charcuterie.
- The vineyards of the Côte de Nuits begin just south of the city, and Beaune, with its famous Hospices, is a short train ride away.
Explore Dijon with World City Trail
Our Dijon scavenger hunt turns these sights into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around two hours, with about 25 minutes of walking: the Jardin des Cloches, the Porte Guillaume, Saint-Bénigne Cathedral and Place François Rude.
At each stop you solve a puzzle and hear a short story, at your own pace. You can start whenever you like and play in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish or Dutch.
Play the Dijon scavenger hunt →
Facts checked in October 2026.