Dijon - Historic Guided Walking Tour

The Porte Guillaume is an impressive gate dating from the 18th century. Located on the beautiful Place Darcy, the Porte Guillaume is standing on the remains of a 12th-century old gate. It was built in tribute to the Prince de Condé who was the governor of Burgundy. Its four magnificent sculptural reliefs have made the Porte Guillaume a landmark and historical monument of Dijon!

The next step of this tour is the Rue de la Liberté, a walking street leading you into the old town of Dijon. This shopping street is full of marvelous architecture! You will see the Place François-Rude and buildings dating from the 15th century like La Maison aux Trois Visages or the old hotel Millière. Nonetheless, you'll be able to discover the legendary Maille shop and its excellent mustard which made Dijon so famous worldwide!

Place de la Libération is a meeting point for locals. Established in the historic heart of Dijon, Place de la Libération wasn't always named this way. Until 1782, its name was Place Royale, a name thought to sublimate the power of King Louis XIV. Today, an equestrian statue of the king is standing on this public square. Place de la Libération is now an opened space sublimating the palace of the dukes of Burgundy as well as the Tour Philippe le Bon. From there, you will have a good panorama of those monuments.

The Tour Philippe le Bon is a tower overlooking the heart of Dijon from its 45-meter-high. Built between 1450 and 1460, you will have the chance to look at its Classical and Renaissance styles architecture. The Tour Philippe le Bon was first a watchtower before becoming a symbol of the Dukes of Burgundy's power. It was even an astronomical tower for a few years! After a spiral staircase of 316 steps, the Tour gives an impressive panorama of the city.

Thanks to its unique Gothic architecture from the 13th century, this masterpiece is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The church façade is of a peculiar flatness which is very unique in French Gothic architecture! It houses the famous statue of Our Lady of Good Hope, formerly known as the Black Virgin. Furthermore, the church is adorned with two main symbols of Dijon: the Jacquemart and the owl. The owl is located on the side of the church and is the object of a superstitious practice. Locals and tourists caress this worn statue with their left hand, hoping their wish will be granted. Why not try it by yourself?

The Palais des Ducs de Bourgogne can be called the Palace of the Dukes and Estates of Burgundy in English. It was a royal residence, hosting the estates of Burgundy. In the present day, it houses the town hall and the Musée des Beaux-Arts. The Palais is made of several areas. The oldest part is the stunning Gothic palace of the Dukes built in the 14th and 15th centuries. But the façade of classical style you will look at is from the 17th century. The Palais is impressive and well-preserved! It became an important landmark of Dijon with the Eglise of Notre-Dame.

Also called the Museum of Fine Arts, this step is located inside the Palais des Ducs de Bourgogne. It means not only you will visit one of the largest and oldest museums in France, but you will also look at the indoor of the former Ducal Palace! The museum's collections are among the richest in the country. The medieval collection is the most remarkable by its quality and quantity. The most famous pieces of the museum are the tombs of the Dukes of Burgundy, presented in the great hall of the Palace.

Our walk will end in front of the Eglise Saint-Michel, a unique church of the 16th century. It is famous for its Renaissance façade, considered as one of the most beautiful in France! The façade is indeed quite unusual as it is a mix of two architectural styles: Gothic and Renaissance, with the influence of Italian art. The entrance of this church with the towers, the columns, and figures around the door are wonderful to look at.