Dijon
Dijon is a city that is the capital of the Cote-d’Or departement of eastern France. This city covers an area of fifteen square miles and has a population of over one hundred and fifty thousand residents. Dijon can trace its history to the Roman Empire when it was a settlement named Divio. Since it was located on the road from Lyon to Paris, St. Benignus is said to have introduced Christianity in the city before becoming a martyr. As such, St. Benignus is the patron saint of Dijon. From the eleventh century until the fourteenth century, Dijon was the home of the Dukes of Burgundy. It was also a very wealthy city that was an European center of education, science and art. During World War II, Dijon was occuppied for four years by Nazi forces and was liberated by Allied forces in September of 1944.
Dijon’s main economic activity is in the service sector. The service sector accounts for neary three quarters of the city’s economic activity. This is mainly represented by the tourism, which is bolstered from visitors from the United States, Japan and the rest of Europe. The other quarter of the city’s economy is made up of the construction and industrial sectors. The industrial sector of Dijon produces electronics, machinery, electrical supplies, optical supplies and cars. The city is also in the forefront of packing and pharmaceutical production. Another key portion of Dijon’s economy is its educational system. The educational needs of the city are serviced by several schools which include the University of Burgundy, Ecole nationale des beaux-arts de Dijon, Europe Centrale et Orientale de Sciences Po Paris and the Etablissement National d’Enseignement Superieur Agronomique de Dijon.
Dijon has many attractions to lure tourist from all over the globe, but the most prominent event in the city is the International and Gastronomic Fair that is held in the city every year. It features over five hundred exhibitions and draws over two hundred thousand visitors each year. It is considered to be one of the top ten fairs to visit in all of France. Visitors can get a taste of some of the best French cuisine in the world at this fair. Some of the dishes that can be found at this fair are food dishes such as Bouillabaisse, Steak frites, Foie gras, Boudin blanc, Pot au feu, Poulet frites, Coq au vin, Andouillette and Blanquette de veau. Tourist can also sample the many different types of French breads which include baguettes, ficelle, pain poilane and flutes. Dijon is also known for producing some of the best wines in the world such as the Gevrey-Chambertin and the Vosne-Romanee. Dijon is also known for a black currant liqueur called creme de cassis. This liqueur is mixed with white wine in a drink known as Kir. And of course, the city is known worldwide for its mustard. There are Dijon mustard shops all over the city which features all types of Dijon mustards, including ones that are a bit unusual, such as Dijon fruit flavored mustard.
And speaking of French cuisine, Dijon is a city that is home to some of the finest restaurants in France. Notable restaurants in the city include Joel Perreaut’s Restaurant des Gourmets, Le Pre aux Clercs, Les Oenophiles, Stephane Derbord, Restaurant Les Jardins de la Cloche, Salle De Seminaire Dijon, Restaurant Le Central Grill, Brasserie Amiral Roussin, Restaurant Taj-Mahal, La Dame d’Aquitaine and the Pourquoi Pas Sarl. And many hotels in the city of Dijon also have fine restaurants listed as amemnities. Popular hotels in the city of Dijon include Hotel Le Jura Dijon, Hostellerie Du Chapeau Rouge, Hotel Ibis Dijon Central, Hotel Thurot, Hotel des Congres, Lysdor, Hotel des Allees, Hotel Le Chambellan and the B&B Hotel Dijon Nord.
One of the main attractions in the city of Dijon is the Cathedrale Saint-Benigne, known commonly as Dijon Cathedral. Dijon Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral that is dedicated to St. Benignus and is a national monument of the country of France. This Gothic style cathedral was built in the fourteenth century and is the final resting place of Philip the Good. Other prominent churches in the city include Notre Dame de Dijon, St. Etienne, and St. Michel. Another popular attraction in Dijon is the Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy (also known as palais des ducs et des Etats de Bourgogne). The Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy is an architectural assemblage that was built during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. It once held the Burgundy estates, but is now home to Dijon city hall and the Musee des Beaux-Arts. The Musee des Beaux-Arts is a museum that houses a large collection of paintings and other works of art. Artists represented in its collection include Georges Rouault, Charles Le Brun, Ambrogio Lorenzetti, Robert Campin, Rubens, Jacopo Pontormo, Juan Gris, Titian, Melchior Broederlam and Claude Monet.
Other popular attractions in the city of Dijon include Maison Milliere, Maison Maillard, Mustard Museum, Owl’s Trail, Musee Archeologique, L’Imaginarium, Musee d’Historie Naturelle, Abbaye de Citeaux, Musee et Parc Noisot, Rue de la Chouette, Musee Rude, Philippe le Bon Tower, Fromagerie Gaugry, Musee Magnin, Musee de la Vie Bourguignonne, Chateau Andre Ziltene, Paroisse Saint Michel de Dijon, Musee d’Art Sacre, La Boutique Maille, Rue des Forges, Musée des Arts et Traditions des Hautes Cotes, Le Cercle Jamaique and the Le Beverly Pub.
Wise tourists to the city of Dijon might want to pick up the Cote de Nuits Pass. The Cote de Nuits Pass gives visitors to the city a whole host of benefits. These include unlimited public transportation, free admission to a whole range of museums, free admission and wine tasting to the Cote de Nuits vineyards, discounts on bicycles and segway rentals and discounts at several Dijon souvenir shops. Dijon is a city that is steeped in history and is well worth the visit. Its large collection of architecturally signifigant buildings, museums, fine restaurants, hotels and museums make this city a place to visit at least once in their lifetime.
