Visit Dijon: 30 Must-See Attractions and Things to Do

Visiting Dijon, the historic capital of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, means discovering a city with exceptional and beautifully preserved heritage. Renowned for its historic center, medieval and Renaissance monuments, and nationally acclaimed museums, Dijon captivates lovers of history, architecture, and culture.

A city of art and history, Dijon is also an essential gastronomic destination in France, famous for its mustard, gingerbread, and Burgundy wines. Its pedestrian-friendly city center, grand mansions, Gothic churches, and lively squares make it an ideal place to explore on foot.

Easily accessible and located in the heart of Burgundy’s wine region, Dijon is also an excellent starting point for exploring the vineyards, villages, and major tourist attractions of the area. Combining heritage, gastronomy, and the French art of living, visiting Dijon offers a complete and authentic experience in the heart of France.

Discover Dijon in a different way with our treasure hunt game “Dijon Highlights“, a mix between an Escape Game and a cultural tour.

Monuments and Historical Heritage of Dijon

Saint-Michel Church

Saint-Michel Church

The construction of Saint-Michel Church in Dijon began at the end of the 15th century and was completed in the 16th century, which explains its unique blend of architectural styles.

It is famous for its spectacular façade, which combines flamboyant Gothic art with influences from the Italian Renaissance. At first glance, visitors notice its imposing proportions and the two towers dominating the neighborhood.

The interior surprises visitors with its bright atmosphere and numerous ancient religious artworks. Among its treasures is a remarkably well-preserved 15th-century entombment sculpture.

Discover secrets hidden within this façade in our Dijon experience.

Saint-Étienne Church

Saint-Étienne Church

Saint-Étienne Church in Dijon is a former medieval church dating from the 15th century, now deconsecrated and located in the heart of Dijon’s historic center.

Its history has been eventful, with several major reconstructions following collapses in the 15th and 17th centuries. The church features a hybrid architecture, combining a Gothic core with a classical Jesuit-style façade added in the 18th century.

Over time, the building lost its religious function and was gradually transformed into a civic and cultural space. Today, it notably houses the Rude Museum, dedicated to the famous sculptor François Rude, who was born in Dijon. It also hosts the Colette Library, which helps bring new life to this former sacred place.

The church even served at various times as a market hall, a stock exchange, and an administrative center, making it a place with many different uses throughout its history.

Grand Theatre of the Dijon Opera

The Grand Theatre of Dijon was inaugurated in 1828 after many years of construction that began during the First Empire. Its neoclassical architecture is inspired by Antiquity, with a façade dominated by an imposing peristyle of Corinthian columns.

The building was designed by architects Jacques Cellerier and Simon Vallot, who wanted to create a prestigious and monumental venue. Inside, the horseshoe-shaped auditorium is typical of Italian-style theatres.

The ceiling of the auditorium is decorated with a trompe-l’œil fresco depicting mythological scenes related to music and dance.

The theatre has been modernized several times, notably in 1969 to improve audience comfort and visibility. Today, it can accommodate around 690 people while preserving its original elegance.

Palace of the Dukes and Estates of Burgundy

The Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy is the most iconic monument in Dijon’s historic center. Construction began in the 14th century, and the building evolved over nearly a thousand years of history.

It was once the residence of the powerful Dukes of Burgundy, who ruled over a vast European state. The palace architecture blends several styles, ranging from medieval Gothic to the classical styles of the 17th and 18th centuries.

Today, the palace houses Dijon’s City Hall as well as the Museum of Fine Arts, one of the richest museums in France. The semicircular Place de la Libération highlights the building’s classical façade.

Inside, visitors can still admire the grand Hall of the Estates and the tombs of the Dukes of Burgundy.

Discover the hidden secrets of the façade and the mysterious nearby statue with our Dijon experience.

Philippe the Good Tower

The Philippe the Good Tower is one of the most emblematic monuments of the Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy. Built in the 15th century, it symbolizes the power of the Dukes of Burgundy at the height of their influence.

Standing 46 meters high, it still dominates the entire historic center of Dijon today. It was designed both as a watchtower and as a strong political symbol.

Its famous spiral staircase includes more than 300 steps leading to the top. In the 18th century, it even served as a scientific observatory for local astronomers. In the 19th century, it hosted a Chappe telegraph relay connecting several French cities.

Maison Milsand

The Maison Maillard, also known as Maison Milsand, is one of the finest examples of Renaissance architecture in Dijon. Built in 1561, it was commissioned by Jean Maillard, who was then mayor of the city.

Its richly sculpted façade immediately catches the attention of visitors walking along Rue des Forges. The building is partly attributed to architect Hugues Sambin, an important figure of the Renaissance in Burgundy.

The house also features a remarkable inner courtyard, typical of Dijon’s private mansions. Visitors can admire a staircase and sculpted decorations that reflect the prestige of its former occupants.

Discover hidden details on the façade in our treasure hunt in Dijon.

Hôtel Aubriot

Hôtel Aubriot is one of the oldest private mansions in Dijon, dating back to the 13th century. The building rests on a vast medieval vaulted cellar, once used by money changers. This cellar was known as the “vault of exchanges,” reflecting the city’s historic economic activity.

The building is also linked to Hugues Aubriot, an important figure in Dijon’s medieval history. Its façade still preserves remarkable architectural elements despite many transformations over the centuries. During the Renaissance and in the 18th century, the building was modified to serve as a courthouse. It later underwent several major restorations, especially at the beginning of the 20th century.

Hôtel de Vogüé

Hôtel de Vogüé is a private mansion located in Dijon, in the Côte-d’Or department. It was built starting in 1614 for Étienne Bouhier, a councillor at the Parliament of Burgundy and an art enthusiast.

The building represents a transitional style between the Renaissance and classicism. It underwent a major expansion in 1690.

Discover mysterious letters hidden on this mansion in our Dijon experience.

Notre-Dame Church of Dijon

The Notre-Dame Church of Dijon was mainly built between 1220 and 1250 and stands as a major example of 13th-century French Gothic architecture.

This relatively flat façade conceals the church’s interior structure and includes numerous decorative sculptures, including false gargoyles added during the 19th-century restorations.

The church houses several remarkable heritage features. The statue of Notre-Dame de Bon-Espoir, dating from the 11th or 12th century, is one of the oldest Virgin Mary statues in France. The building is also known for the Jacquemart, an animated clock installed on the façade, as well as for the famous owl sculpture carved into an exterior buttress, which has become a popular symbol of the city.

The stained-glass windows include several original 13th-century panels, complemented in the 19th century by Neo-Gothic creations. The organ, installed in the gallery, dates from the late 19th century and reflects the church’s musical tradition.

Today, Notre-Dame de Dijon remains a central monument of the city’s architectural and spiritual heritage, serving both as a place of worship and as a highly visited cultural site.

Discover the secrets of this bell in our Dijon experience.

Central Market Halls and Central Market

The Central Market Halls of Dijon are a covered market located in the city center of Dijon, in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. Built between 1873 and 1875, they are a remarkable example of 19th-century metal architecture.

The project was launched by the Dijon municipality in 1868 to create a modern covered market. The plans were finalized by engineer Louis-Clément Weinberger. The building was erected on the site of a former Dominican convent.

The structure covers an area of around 4,400 m² and reaches a height of 13 meters. It is organized into four pavilions around two large cross-shaped aisles. Originally, it housed numerous shops, market stalls, and annexes for merchants.

The architecture of the halls stands out for its metal structure, with a succession of arcades and decorated columns. The capitals are adorned with plant motifs, especially vine branches. The sculpted decorations also depict animals and symbols related to trade and food, such as heads of game or livestock.

Decorative medallions show mythological figures such as Ceres, goddess of harvests, and Hermes, god of commerce. The roof is directly inspired by the great metal market halls of 19th-century Paris.

Discover the animals featured on this façade with our treasure hunt in Dijon.

Place Grangier

The square’s name comes from Henri Grangier and his wife Sophie Villeneuve, benefactors of the city of Dijon, who bequeathed their fortune and collections to the municipality as well as to the general hospital.

Historically, the site of the square was occupied from the 15th to the 19th century by Dijon Castle. This vast building, constructed between the late Middle Ages and the beginning of the Renaissance, was demolished between 1891 and 1897 after several debates and controversies. Its disappearance paved the way for a major urban transformation of the district.

At the beginning of the 20th century, several important buildings were constructed around the square. One of the most remarkable is the Hôtel des Postes, built between 1907 and 1909 in a style inspired by classical French architecture. It is especially notable for its monumental clock accompanied by sculptures representing Day and Night.

Around the square, several Art Nouveau buildings were also built by architect Louis Perreau between 1906 and 1908. These buildings contribute to the architectural identity of the site, combining floral decorations with the characteristic lines of this artistic movement.

Throughout the 20th century, the square continued to evolve. In the 1920s, an Art Deco-style hotel was built, illustrating the architectural renewal of the period. In the 1960s, a modern tower block was added, changing the silhouette of the district.

At the same time, major urban developments were carried out, including the construction of an underground car park in the late 1960s, which profoundly transformed the organization of the center of the square.

Discover a rather unusual clock on this square with our treasure hunt in Dijon.

Porte Guillaume

Saint-Bénigne Cathedral of Dijon

Saint-Bénigne Cathedral of Dijon is Gothic in style and was built between 1280 and 1393 on the site of the former Saint-Bénigne Abbey.

The building is dedicated to Saint Bénigne, a Christian martyr from the 2nd century. It was elevated to cathedral status in 1792, after the creation of the Diocese of Dijon.

The history of the site dates back to the year 511, when a crypt was built to house the relics of Saint Bénigne. A basilica was then constructed, and an abbey developed around the site. In the 11th century, under the influence of Abbot Guillaume de Volpiano, a major reconstruction was carried out with an underground church, an upper church, and a large rotunda.

The current cathedral preserves ancient elements, especially the crypt, which is the main remnant of the medieval rotunda. This crypt is a remarkable example of 11th-century religious architecture.

Over the centuries, the building underwent several transformations, including its Gothic reconstruction between the 13th and 14th centuries, the partial destruction of the rotunda in 1792, and its rediscovery and restoration in the 19th century. A new spire was also added at the end of the 19th century.

The cathedral is also known for its great organ, its bell carillon, and its historical importance in the region.

Saint-Philibert Church of Dijon

Saint-Philibert Church of Dijon is a former Catholic church located on Rue Michelet, near Saint-Bénigne Cathedral. It was built in the 12th century in Romanesque style and is the only Romanesque religious building still visible in Dijon.

Over time, the church underwent several modifications. A bell tower was added in the early 16th century, while chapels and a porch were built or altered between the 16th and 18th centuries.

Originally, the building played an important role in the city’s political and religious life. It was notably in its cemetery that communal assemblies were held and that the city of Dijon received a municipal charter in 1187.

During the Revolution, the church was deconsecrated and used for military purposes, as a stable and storage depot. Part of the building, including the apse, was destroyed in 1825 to allow the widening of a street.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, the church served several purposes: military depot, museum, exhibition hall, and concert venue. It was listed as a historical monument in 1913.

Must-See Museums in Dijon