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Dijon Sights and Landmarks Guide, France

Not far from Paris and Lyon, Dijon is indeed a historical and religious capital of the region of Bourgogne, France. You will be welcomed by dozens of churches and architectural jewels from the 13 to 20 century; in fact, Dijon is one of the richest cities in France from the architectural point of view.

Dijon – Sights – Churches and cathedrals

In your tour through the historical center of Dijon, make some worthwhile stops. The 13th century Cathedrale Saint Benigne is one of the great Bourgogne gothic cathedrals. Notre Dame Church, the most famous churches in Dijon, built in 1230 and finished in 1250. A small owl carved in a chapel adjacent to the church is nowadays the lucky charm of Dijon, just caress it with your left arm and make a wish. You should not miss Saint Michel Church, a combination of gothic and Renaissance styles. If you want to see the old modernized, go see Crypte Notre-Dame d'Ephèse of Saint-Bernard Church, a crypt painted in a very profound blue.

Dijon – Sights –Town hotels

Dijon is famous for the architectural beauties, les Hotels, meaning the town hotels. Built in the 15, 16, 17 or 18th century, these imposing buildings make Dijon a charming city to visit. You should walk by or enter the Hotel Berbisey, which combines stone and wood and the Hotel Bouchu, with a rigorous front and decorated with wall ties at the angles and the windows. It would be a pity not to visit La Maison de Trois Pignons (The House of three Gables) built around 1440 with a very interesting geometry of its front.

Dijon – Sights – Museums

Here are some of the museums that you might want to discover for their uniqueness and originality. Le Musée des Beaux-Arts is one of the oldest museums in France, interesting for its collections, from the Egyptian art to the 20th century. The Museum of Archeology or The Museum of Sacred Art are welcoming those interested in the history of the region with Bronze age collections or 12th century art objects.

Dijon – Sights – Nature

Whether you want to stop a minute from your visit tour or you just want to enjoy the sun and the joie-de-vivre, there are many public gardens and parks: Jardin Darcy – the most ancient one in Dijon, Jardin de Sainte-Anne or Jardin de l’Arquebuse (with a botanical garden and a Planetarium), Parc de la Colombiere the largest park with more than 6 thousand trees, Parc des Carrières Bacquin with a mini golf course for kids, Parc des Argentieres with a boxwood labyrinth and an animal enclosure.