Car Hire Dijon

Mini guide to Dijon

Dijon is located in the centre of the Côte d'Or and is the ancient capital of Burgundy. Who hasn’t heard of Dijon mustard? Well, this is where it originated. Burgundy is of course known for its great wine and cheese and this is the place to enjoy both of them.

Although Dijon at first sight might look like a dreary modern town, delve into the centre and you will a wonderful medieval town. Many of the streets and buildings have been restored, to give that medieval feel. The city has magnificent half-timbered houses and hotels rivalling those in Paris. But the most striking group of buildings is its three central churches, built one after the other for three distinct parishes.

There numerous museums in Dijon, but the one most worth visiting is the Musee des Beaux-Arts. This is housed in an old palace and claims to be one of France’s oldest and richest museums. It has a wonderful collection of 14th and 19th century French paintings and sculptures. The interior of the palace is magnificent and breathtaking, especially the Banquet Hall. As Dijon is the home of mustard, make a fun visit to the Musee de la Moutarde and learn about the history of mustard.

The best way to reach Dijon is by car. From Paris, follow the A6 southeast to the town of Pouilly-en-Auxois, then east along A38 into Dijon. Dijon is 312kms from Paris and 320kms northeast of Lyon. Dijon also has good rail and bus connections to many cities in Europe. The train journey from Paris Gare de Lyon takes roughly 2 hours, with over 20 trains daily to Dijon.