Dijon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Commune of Dijon | |
| Edited by ChloeCaddleSHSGImage:Dijon Rue vieille.jpg | |
| Street in the center of Dijon | |
| Location | |
| |
| Coordinates | |
| Administration | |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Région | Bourgogne (capital) |
| Département | Côte-d'Or (préfecture) |
| Arrondissement | Dijon |
| Canton | Chief town of 8 cantons |
| Intercommunality | Communauté d'agglomération Dijonnaise |
| Mayor | François Rebsamen (PS) (2001 - 2008) |
| Statistics | |
| Altitude | 220 m–410 m (avg. 245 m) |
| Land area¹ | 40.41 km² |
| Population² (1999) | 149,867 |
| - Density (1999) | 3,709/km² |
| Miscellaneous | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 21231/ 21000 |
| ¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq. mi. or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
| ² Population sans doubles comptes: single count of residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel). | |
| Image:Flag of France.svg | |
Image:Dijon Rue vieille.jpg Image:Dijon Arc de Triomphe.jpg
Dijon (pronunciation ) is a city in eastern France, the préfecture (administrative capital) of the Côte-d'Or département and of the Bourgogne région. Dijon is the historical capital of the province of Burgundy. Population (1999): 149,867 for the commune; 240,000 for the greater Dijon area.
Contents |
[edit] History
Dijon began as a Roman settlement called Castrum Divionense, located on the road from Lyon to Mainz. Saint Benignus (Saint Bénigne), the city's patron saint, is said to have introduced Christianity to the area before being martyred. This province was home to the Dukes of Burgundy from the early 11th century until the late 1400's and Burgundy was a place of tremendous wealth and power and one of the great European centers of art, learning and science.
[edit] Main sights
The town center is one of the best-preserved in France: over half of the buildings are over 200 years old. There are a surprisingly large number of splendid churches and cathedrals there, including St. Benigne, Nortre-Dame, St. Etienne, and St. Michel. It is noteworthy that the crypt of Cathédrale Saint-Bégnine dates from 1000 years ago, and the city has retained many architectural charms from many of the main periods from the past millenium - Gothic, Renaissance, Capetian... even many of the still-inhabited houses in the city's central district date from before the 18th century.
Dijon was spared the destruction of various wars such as the 1870 Franco-Prussian War, despite the fact that the Prussian army invaded the city. Therefore, many of the wonderful old buildings such as the half-timbered houses dating from the 12th to the 15th century (found mainly in the city's core district), are undamaged at least by organized violence.
There are many fine museums in the city, not the least of which is one dedicated to - yes, mustard!! Another is the Musée des Beaux Arts in the old part of the Ducal Palace (see below). It contains some fine sculptures, ducal kitchens that date back to the mid-1400’s, and a collection of European paintings from the early Renaissance to the Impressionistic periods.
Among the more interesting of Dijon's "must see" localities is the Ducal Palace (i.e. the "Palais des Ducs et des Etats de Bourgogne"), which is one of only a few remaining examples of the Capetian period in the region.(If you like climbing steps and/or great views, make your way to the top of the "Tour de Philippe le Bon", where will have one of the most impressive views of Dijon.) Another is a curious carving of an owl, on the church of Notre Dame on the rue de la Préfecture. It is reported that this has become regarded as a good-luck charm: people touch it with their left hand and make a wish.
To top it all off, as detailed in subsequent sections of this entry, there are a plethera of well-regarded eating and shopping localities for those who wish to enjoy their visit to Dijon in high style, and even a couple of 3 and one 4 star hotels.
[edit] Transport
Dijon is located approximately one hour and 40 minutes southeast of Paris by the TGV high-speed train. 12 trains run daily to Lyon, two hours distant, and at least two trains run daily to Nice (six hours) and Strasbourg (four hours)It would take about 5 hours if you were to drive.
[edit] Culture
Dijon is home, every three years, to the international flower show Florissimo.
To the northwest of Dijon, the race track of Dijon-Prenois hosts various motor sport events. In the past, it once hosted the Formula 1 Grand Prix of France.
Dijon is home to Dijon FCO, a football team in Ligue 2, the second-highest league in French football.
[edit] Colleges and universities
- Dijon hosts the main campus of the University of Burgundy (Université de Bourgogne) [1]
- École nationale des beaux-arts de Dijon
- 1er cycle européen (Europe Centrale et Orientale) de Sciences Po Paris [2]
- École Supérieure de Commerce de Dijon
Dijon is home to one of the worlds most loves mustard and there are many Boutique de la moutarde, in the city<B>
[edit] Food and drink
[edit] Mustard
Dijon is famous for its mustard, even though nowadays around 90% of all mustard seeds used are imported, mainly from Canada. The term Dijon mustard (moutarde de Dijon) designates a method for the making of mustard. Traditional Dijon mustard is particularly strong. Most Dijon mustard (brands such as Amora or Maille) is produced industrially, but the town also specializes in exotic or unusually-flavored mustard, often sold in decorative hand-painted faïence (china) pots. In non-European markets such as the United States the name "Dijon mustard" is not trademarked. The only way to be sure you are getting real Dijon mustard is to buy a jar that was imported from France; however, true Dijon mustard in exotic flavors can be difficult to find outside France.
[edit] Wine
As the capital of the Burgundy region, Dijon reigns over some of the best wine country in the world. Many superb vineyards producing vins d'appellation contrôlée, such as Vosne-Romanée and Gevrey-Chambertin, are within 20 minutes of the city center. The town's university boasts a renowned oenology institute. The drive from Santenay to Dijon, known as the route des Grands Crus, is a wine-lover's dream, passing through an idyllic countryside of exquisite vineyards, rivers, villages, forests, and twelfth-century churches. The region's architecture is distinguished by, among other things, toits bourguignons (Burgundian roofs) made of tiles glazed in terra cotta, green, yellow and black and arranged in eye-catching geometric patterns. The city is also well known for its crème de cassis, or blackcurrentliqueur, used in the drink known as "Kir" (white wine, especially Bourgogne aligoté, with blackcurrant liqueur, named after former mayor of Dijon canon Félix Kir). The same drink made with champagne instead of white wine is known as un kir royal.
The American food writer M.F.K. Fisher, who moved to Dijon shortly after her marriage in 1929, fell in love with the region's cuisine and wrote about it in Long Ago in France.
[edit] Miscellaneous
[edit] Notable people
Dijon was the birthplace of:
- Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet
- Henry Darcy
- Gustave Eiffel
- Charles, Duke of Burgundy
- Roger Guillemin
- François Jouffroy
- Jean-Philippe Rameau
- François Rude (1784 - 1855), sculptor
- Jean-Pierre Marielle (*1932), actor
- Claude Jade (*1948), actress
- Julien Pillet (September 28, 1977 - ), sabre fencer
[edit] Photo Gallery
Porte Guillaume on Darcy Square |
Rue de la Liberté (Freedom Street) |
Carrefour du Miroir (Mirror's Crossroads) |
Boutique de moutarde (Typical mustard shop) |
Place François Rude (François Rude Square) |
Typical street in the old town-centre |
Place de la Libération (Liberation Square) |
Palais des ducs de Bourgogne (Dukes of Burgundy's Palace) |
Philippe le Bon Tower |
Philippe II Le Hardi's tomb |
Saint-Bénigne Cathedral |
Saint-Michel Church |
[edit] External links
- Dijon travel guide from Wikitravel
- Official site of the city government
- Photos of Dijon
- ETIQ Students Association
Overseas départements:
Cayenne (French Guiana) • Basse-Terre (Guadeloupe) • Fort-de-France (Martinique) • Saint-Denis (Réunion)
Overseas Régions:
Cayenne (French Guiana) • Basse-Terre (Guadeloupe) • Fort-de-France (Martinique) • Saint-Denis (Réunion)
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