Dijon is a French commune, prefecture of the Côte-d'Or department
and capital of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region. It is located
between the Paris basin and the Rhône basin, on the
Paris-Lyon-Mediterranean axis, 310 kilometers south-east of Paris
and 190 kilometers north of Lyon.
Its inhabitants, called the
Dijonnais, numbered 156,920 in 2017. The urban unit, which for its
part had 245,875 inhabitants, is the first agglomeration of the
region in terms of number of inhabitants. The city is at the center
of an intercommunality, Dijon Métropole, comprising 23
municipalities and 253,638 inhabitants and an urban area of
387,382 inhabitants.
Historical capital of the Duchy of
Burgundy, city of a hundred spiers under the Ancien Régime, heir to
a rich historical and architectural heritage, Dijon is a tourist
city whose appeal is reinforced by the gastronomic reputation of the
region. The historic center of the city is the second component of
the climates of the Burgundy vineyards, registered since July 4,
2015 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
City of congresses, the
Burgundian capital is also a green city with an important tertiary
sector, as well as a regional economic center with a diversified
fabric, with a traditional agrifood center (Dijon mustard, Dijon and
kir crème de cassis, gingerbread , Lanvin chocolate, etc.) and a
renowned pharmaceutical sector.
The former ducal palace on the semi-circular, colonnaded Place de la
Liberation is still the center of the city, dates from the late 17th
century and now houses the town hall in the west wing. The 46 meter high
Tour Philippe-le-Bon dates back to the 15th century. In the district
around the Ducal Palace there are beautiful patrician houses (hotels)
from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. More than 70 of them are
listed as a historic monument of the Base Mérimée.
The Palais de
Justice dates from the 15th and 16th centuries and was originally the
seat of the Burgundy Court of Justice. The Gothic Cathedral of Dijon was
built from 1271 to 1325 after the previous building from the 11th
century collapsed; its remains can be seen in the crypt where Saint
Benignus of Dijon, one of the great missionaries of Burgundy, is buried.
An archaeological museum is housed in the preserved monastery buildings.
The Notre-Dame church was built between 1220 and 1250 in the Burgundian
Gothic style. The late Gothic Saint-Michel church was built between 1499
and 1525 and is the largest parish church in Dijon; it contains numerous
works of art. The monastery church of the Saint Bernard Sisters is a
magnificent Italian baroque building and houses a museum of sacred art.
Folklore exhibits are on display in the former convent buildings. Only
remains of the Chartreuse de Champmol, built as the dukes' burial place,
remain; The sculptures of the Moses fountain and the chapel portal
decorated with statues by Claus Sluter from the 15th century have been
preserved. The figures of prophets and mourning angels were seminal for
the development of Burgundy sculpture. The 19th-century synagogue was
saved from destruction by Félix Kir. Opened in 1880, Jardin Darcy is the
city's oldest public park.
The Château de Pouilly on the
outskirts of the city was the Bouhier family's country estate.
Museums
Dijon is home to renowned museums that showcase important
regional collections. They are all housed in cultural monuments.
The
Art Museum is one of the oldest museums in France. It houses works of
art from ancient Egypt to the 20th century and is housed in the former
palace of the Dukes of Burgundy.
The archaeological museum is housed
in the remains of the collegiate church of St. Benigne. Finds from Roman
times and the Middle Ages are presented here. The head of Christ from
the cross planned for the Moses fountain by Claus Sluter from the
Chartreuse de Champmol is also on display here.
The Musée de la vie
bourguignonne Perrin de Puycousin is located in the cloister of the
Monastère des Bernardines. It presents a collection of everyday life in
Burgundy, rural and urban, from the 18th to the early 20th centuries.
The Musée d'art sacré de Dijon is also located within the walls of the
Monastère des Bernardines. It displays a collection of liturgical
objects. The highlight is the sculpture "The Visitation" from the ruined
monastery of the same name.
The Musée Magnin displays an impressive
collection of paintings and furniture collected by Maurice Magnin and
his wife Jeanne. It is housed in the former Hôtel Lantin, a 17th-century
Hôtel Particulier, rue des Bons Enfants.
The Musée Rude is located in
the transept of the profaned Saint-Étienne church. It houses various
casts of busts and statues by the sculptor François Rude.
The
buildings of the Natural History Museum - Planetarium - Garden of
Science are part of the collections of the Arquebuse Botanical Garden.
Le Consortium is a contemporary art museum with an extensive collection.
It regularly holds temporary exhibitions.
Until 2006 there was still
the mustard museum Musée de la moutarde de Dijon (Musée Amora), which
was located on the Amora site.
By car
Dijon is served by highways:
from Paris by the A6
then the A38;
from Lyon or Metz / Nancy by the A31;
from
Besançon by the A39.
By train
Dijon is well served by the TGV; it only takes 1 hour
40 minutes to come from Paris (Gare de Lyon). Travel times will be
shortened in the years to come. If you want to travel economically,
take the normal train (TER, Corail), but it will take 3 hours. In
addition, the station is very well served by trains from provincial
towns: it takes 2 hours 15 minutes to come from Nancy, 1 hour 40
minutes from Lyon, 1 hour from Besançon.
On a boat
Dijon
Marina - Boats can arrive in Dijon via the Burgundy Canal: the city
has a marina. This is the old commercial port, inaugurated in 1832.
By plane
Dijon-Bourgogne Airport - The medium-sized Dijon
Bourgogne airport is no longer served by regular lines.
The
nearest operational airport is Dole Jura.
antiquity
The earliest finds in the area of today's city of Dijon
date from the Hallstatt period, an epoch of the Iron Age. In Gallo-Roman
times there was only one relatively insignificant place called Divio
(variants: Diviodunum, Dibio, Castrum divionense). It lay on the border
of the Lingones and Aedui civitates and belonged to the province of
Gallia Belgica. The missionary Benignus von Dijon, who according to
Christian tradition had worked in Dijon for a long time, is said to have
been martyred here in the 2nd or 3rd century.
Literally, the
place is attested only by early medieval authors. Gregory of Tours
reports that Aurelian fortified the place. The Roman emperor probably
took this step around 273 AD because of ongoing Germanic invasions.
According to Gregor, the fortified settlement, which had a circumference
of about 1200 m, was located north of the Ouche and was flowed through
by the Suzon, with the water power of which was used to operate mills.
Not far west of the village were fertile vineyards. The Via Agrippa, a
Roman road leading from Lyon (Latin/Celtic Lugdunum) to Trier (Latin
Augusta Treverorum), also ran nearby.
middle Ages
In the 470s,
Dijon came under the rule of the Burgundians. In 500 AD, the Franks
under Clovis I defeated the Burgundians under Gundobad at the Battle of
Dijon. The mighty Saint-Bénigne Abbey was founded here in 525. In 737
Dijon was cremated by the Saracens and in 888 by the Normans.
In
the 9th century, during the Carolingian period, Dijon came under the
rule of the Bishops of Langres, from whom the Counts of Dijon had fiefs.
After the last of these counts died in 1007, the city came into the
possession of King Robert II the Pious by purchase in 1016, who
incorporated it into the Duchy of Burgundy and made it its metropolis.
In 1032 Dijon came with Burgundy as an appanage to the princes of the
Capetian dynasty. Three church assemblies (Concilia Divonensia) were
held in Dijon, in 1077, 1116 and 1199.
On June 28, 1137, a fire
destroyed the city, which was rebuilt under Duke Hugo II. Duke Hugo III.
gave Dijon its city rights in 1187 and the suburb of Saint-Bénigne was
walled and incorporated. The Charité hospital was also founded at this
time. The importance of Dijon increased in the 12th century due to the
granting of city rights and the holding of a large fair.
After
Philip I of Burgundy died in 1361, the French King John II the Good
handed over the Duchy of Burgundy, with Dijon as its capital, to his
son, Philip the Bold, in 1364. In 1377 he acquired some land outside the
city gates and in 1384 built the Chartreuse de Champmol, a Carthusian
monastery and future burial place of the Dukes of Burgundy.
Unlike the other parts of his empire, Philip the Bold administered
Burgundy himself and established a permanent council to assist him in
this government activity, which met in Dijon. The city was also the
place of the temporary meeting of a 1386 founded, u. a. Assembly of
estates consisting of delegates from the nobility and the larger cities,
which could only be convened by the duke. Dijon flourished culturally
under Philip the Bold and his successors, all of the House of Valois,
who ruled Burgundy from 1364 to 1477. It was a residence of these dukes,
whose glittering court attracted musicians and artists.
After the
death of Charles the Bold in January 1477, the French King Louis XI.
occupy Burgundy. In June 1477 a spontaneous uprising broke out in Dijon,
which spread across the country but was quickly subdued by Charles
d'Amboise, who was appointed governor of Burgundy. Louis XI established
the parliament for Burgundy in Dijon and personally visited the city on
July 31, 1479, where he received the oath of fealty from his new
subjects in the Saint-Bénigne church and confirmed the privileges of
Dijon.
Modern times
Dijon was attacked by 20,000 Swiss and
Germans in 1513 (Dijon campaign). The French governor Louis II de La
Trémoille had to capitulate after a few days, largely fulfill the
federal demands and promise a high war indemnity, whereupon the siege
army withdrew again. In the Huguenot wars, the city was always on the
side of the Catholics, but was spared the massacres that followed St.
Bartholomew's Night (1572). She submitted to King Henry IV in 1595.
The rise to a large city began in the 17th and 18th centuries. Dijon
was a prosperous city, especially in the 18th century. In 1722 the
university was founded in Dijon and in 1731 the diocese of Dijon was
established. In 1740 the Burgundian Parliament established the Academy
of Sciences, Arts and Literature. A botanical garden and a natural
history museum were also set up at this time.
On July 18, 1766,
on the occasion of a visit by the governor, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – he
was ten years old at the time – made a guest appearance in the city with
his father and sister. They gave a concert together.
Dijon
experienced a temporary decline after the outbreak of the French
Revolution (1789). But the city grew again in the 19th century. The
demolition of the old fortifications became necessary. In 1833 the Canal
de Bourgogne was completed. In 1851 the first railway connections to
Dijon were laid, when the later Emperor Napoleon III. opened the
connection to the Paris–Marseille railway line. This brought the city to
renewed prosperity. In 1899 she was admitted to the Legion of Honor
(Légion d'honneur), which resulted in a change in the city's coat of
arms.
During the Franco-Prussian War, on October 30, 1870 near
Dijon, a battle took place between the Baden division belonging to
Werder's corps and advanced parts of the army from Lyon. After putting
up stubborn resistance for several hours on October 31, the city itself
capitulated and General Werder established his headquarters there. As
the French Army of the East under Bourbaki approached towards the end of
December 1870, Dijon was evacuated by the Germans on December 27 and
occupied by Garibaldi the following day. On January 21 and 23, 1871,
fighting took place in the Dijon area between Garibaldi's troops and
detached detachments of the 2nd German Army Corps, through which
Garibaldi and his corps were held near Dijon, while General von
Manteuffel cut off Bourbaki's army's lines of retreat . When General
Hann von Weyhern arrived at the end of January, Garibaldi had to
evacuate the city on the night of January 31, after which the Germans
moved back in on February 1. On February 10, 1871, Manteuffel moved his
headquarters to Dijon.
In 1940 the city was bombed and occupied
by the German Wehrmacht. Three of the planes that were supposed to bomb
Dijon got lost and mistakenly bombed Freiburg im Breisgau. On September
11, 1944, the city was liberated again.
In 1964, just outside the
city to the west, the Lac Chanoine Kir reservoir was created, which is
named after the then mayor and is now an important local recreation
area. In 1981 it was connected to the TGV network of the French
railways.
Blazon: "Red with a split shield head, in front within a silver-red
border, blue sprinkled with golden heraldic lilies, in the back within a
red border divided five times diagonally to the right by gold and blue."
Coat of arms history: Until 1391 the coat of arms of the city was
Ledig red in an old French triangular shield. In the same year, today's
coat of arms with the colors of the Duke of Burgundy, Philip II the
Bold, was introduced in the shield head.
During the reign of
Napoléon Bonaparte, the city's coat of arms changed as a city of the
first order (Napoleonic heraldry):
"Below a red shield head, in
it three golden bees, divided, in front within a silver-red border in
blue a golden vine with four leaves and two vines, behind within a red
border divided five times diagonally right by gold and blue." in French
coat of arms (18th and 19th centuries).
After that, the city
again had its current coat of arms, which was expanded in 1899 to
include the cross of the Order of the Legion of Honor hanging from the
shield head without a ribbon. In 1962 the cross was placed under the
shield as an order. i.e. it only appears in the large city coat of arms
with the magnificent pieces, the coat of arms itself has its old form
from 1391.
Location and Regional Context
Dijon lies at approximately 47.3167°
N, 5.0167° E, about 310 km (193 mi) southeast of Paris, 190 km (118 mi)
northwest of Geneva (Switzerland), and 190 km (118 mi) north of Lyon. It
occupies a strategic position in east-central France, at the heart of
the Burgundy wine region and a key transportation corridor connecting
northern and southern Europe.
The city sits in the Saône Plain (part
of the larger Paris Basin drainage), near the transition to more varied
terrain to the west and south. It functions as a natural hub,
historically benefiting from its placement along routes between the
Mediterranean, the Alps, and northern France.
Topography and
Terrain
Dijon is primarily situated on a relatively flat plain, with
an average urban elevation of around 230–280 meters (755–920 ft) above
sea level. The city center is lower, around 245 m (804 ft) at the city
hall, while the broader arrondissement ranges from about 181 m to 605 m.
Western side: A ~500 m elevated limestone plateau borders the city,
largely forested. This plateau is part of the Côte d'Or ("Golden Slope")
escarpment, which rises to the west and features steep-sided valleys.
The plateau is incised by valleys with grasslands.
Eastern side: A
flatter plain (~220 m) extends with croplands, forests, and ponds.
Overall relief: Within 2 miles of the city center, elevation varies
significantly (up to ~180 m change). Within 10 miles, variations reach
~417 m, and within 50 miles up to ~722 m, reflecting the transition
toward the Jura Mountains and other uplands.
The terrain is
gently undulating in the western urban parts and flatter in the central
and eastern areas. This mix of plain and nearby hills has shaped Dijon's
growth and agriculture.
Hydrology
Two small rivers define the
local hydrology:
Suzon River: Flows north to south through the city,
largely underground in the urban core.
Ouche River: Flows along the
southern side, converging with the Suzon. It runs from northwest to
southeast through the city.
The Burgundy Canal (Canal de
Bourgogne) also passes nearby, historically important for trade. The
area is well-drained, part of the broader Seine and Rhône river basins
indirectly.
Climate
Dijon has an oceanic climate (Cfb) under
the Köppen classification, with strong continental influences due to its
inland position in northeastern France.
Key characteristics:
Summers: Warm to hot (July average high ~25–26°C / 77–78°F, lows ~14°C /
57°F). Humid with frequent thunderstorms.
Winters: Cool to cold
(January average ~1–2°C / 34–36°F, with frosts and occasional drops
below -10°C). Snow is possible but not extreme.
Precipitation: Evenly
distributed year-round (~700–980 mm annually), with slight peaks in
autumn or convective summer rains. No pronounced dry season.
Temperature range: Significant diurnal and annual variation due to
continental effects—wider than purely coastal oceanic areas.
Winds:
Variable; south-westerlies in winter, north-westerlies otherwise.
Daytime winds stronger.
The climate supports viticulture on the
nearby Côte d'Or slopes, where the aspect (east/southeast facing) and
protection from winds create ideal microclimates for Pinot Noir and
Chardonnay grapes.
Surrounding Landscape and Land Use
Immediate surroundings: To the south and west lie the famous Côte d'Or
hills and Burgundy vineyards (part of a UNESCO World Heritage site for
the "Climats" of Burgundy). These limestone slopes are renowned for
world-class wines.
Broader region: Eastward plains support
agriculture (field crops). Forests cover significant portions of the
plateau to the west. The area transitions toward the Jura Mountains
further east/southeast.
Urban land cover: Mostly artificial surfaces
in the core, with parks, a lake in the west, and the Ouche River
corridor providing green space.
Economic Scale and Context
Dijon itself (population ~162,000 in
2023, metro area ~400,000+) serves as the main economic engine for the
region. The broader Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region had a GDP of around
€81.7 billion in 2021 (3.2% of France’s national GDP, ranked 11th), with
per capita GDP of ~€29,258. Dijon’s labor force is roughly 65,000
workers.
France’s national economy is heavily service-based (~70–79%
of GDP), with industry ~19–20% and agriculture ~1.7–2%. Dijon mirrors
this but with a stronger emphasis on agro-food industries and public
services due to its regional capital role.
Key Sectors
1. Food
Processing and Agri-Food (Traditional Strength)
Dijon is synonymous
with Dijon mustard (though most seeds are now imported, mainly from
Canada; brands like Amora and Maille have roots here). Other specialties
include crème de cassis (blackcurrant liqueur used in Kir), gingerbread,
and chocolate (e.g., Lanvin).
The city positions itself as a “capital
of taste, food transition, and hospitality,” with around 9,000 jobs in
the broader food/wine/gastronomy sector.
Vitagora (competitiveness
cluster for taste, nutrition, health) drives innovation in food tech,
functional foods, and sustainable agriculture.
Burgundy wine region
(centered nearby in Beaune) supports related activities: tourism,
logistics, and oenology. The International Organisation of Vine and Wine
(OIV) is headquartered in Dijon.
Support infrastructure includes
Agronov technology park, AgroSup Dijon, and research in agro-ecology.
2. Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare (High-Tech Growth)
A renowned
pharmaceutical sector with research labs and listed companies.
Santenov Dijon Bourgogne cluster focuses on healthcare innovation.
Multiple research laboratories (15+ mentioned in investment materials)
and facilities like the Inventiva research center.
Education and
health services form the largest employment sector in Dijon.
3.
Services, Education, and Public Sector
As a regional capital and
university town, Dijon has a strong tertiary sector (services dominate
employment).
Key employers include universities, hospitals, and
government administration.
Smart City initiatives in intelligent
systems, advanced materials, and smart buildings. Dijon ranks highly
among French medium-sized cities for attractiveness.
4. Tourism
and Gastronomy
UNESCO-listed historic center and proximity to
Burgundy vineyards make it a key destination.
The Cité Internationale
de la Gastronomie et du Vin (International Centre for Gastronomy and
Wine) boosts visitor numbers.
Five Michelin-starred restaurants,
vibrant markets, and shopping contribute significantly. Tourism supports
hospitality, retail, and related services.
5. Other Industries
Diversified manufacturing and logistics, aided by good transport links.
Emerging clusters in robotics (Robotics Valley) and precision
fermentation/sustainable food tech (e.g., foreign investments like
Mediterranean Food Lab).
Employment and Labor Market
Over
100,000 private-sector jobs in Greater Dijon, supported by 16,000+
companies.
Unemployment in the Dijon employment area has historically
tracked or been slightly better than national averages (France ~7.3–8.1%
in recent years). The region (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté) had ~5.7%
unemployment in 2023 in some reports.
Major employment in public
administration/education/health (~27% of regional GVA), trade, and
industry.
Skilled workforce from local universities and engineering
schools (e.g., ESIREM).
Business Environment and Investment
Dijon Bourgogne Invest (DBI) actively promotes relocation/expansion with
free support. The area ranks high for quality of life among mid-sized
French cities.
Strengths: Available land/offices, skilled labor,
innovation clusters (Vitagora, Agronov, etc.), and central location.
Attractive for food tech, health, and green industries. Foreign direct
investment targets sustainable food and pharma.
Challenges and
Outlook
Dependence on agriculture/wine makes it vulnerable to climate
change (e.g., mustard seed shortages in past years) and global commodity
prices.
Like much of France, it faces national issues: moderate
growth, labor regulations, and energy costs.
Positive drivers: Food
transition/sustainability trends, tourism recovery, high-speed rail
connectivity, and innovation in health/food tech.
Dijon is leveraging
its heritage for modern growth—positioning as a hub for gastronomy,
wine, and sustainable innovation while maintaining a balanced, livable
economy.