Monday 15 October 2012

Dijon Cuts the Mustard!

During the grape harvest, Burgundy is a great travel destination, and Dijon (and Beaune) is a great centre for further exploration of Burgundy. The Independent have a great article and photos about Dijon - here is an extract.

"Dijon has really come alive with revived public spaces and new pedestrianised streets," says tour guide Sherry Thevenot of Bourgogne Authentique. "It still has the classical sites, but a new sense of vibrancy pervades."

Place Darcy is a transport hub and a suitable starting point to explore this much-overlooked French city with great aspirations. Start by heading straight under the Porte Guillaume, Dijon's Arc de Triomphe, and head east along Rue de la Liberté. This street, which is essentially the dividing line between medieval Dijon to the north and the classical city of the 17th and 18th centuries to the south, is the next to be pedestrianised.

On the right, as you walk towards the Place de la Libération, is Maille (00 33 3 8030 4102; maille.com), Dijon's celebrated mustard shop, with free tastings of its hand-pumped spicy condiment. Cross over and walk past the Galeries Lafayette to Place François Rude, home to the chocolate-heaven Pâtisserie Carbillet (00 33 3 8030 3882; chocolat-carbillet.com) on the corner of Rue des Forges.

Heading north, take Rue Odebert to loop around the covered market, Les Halles, the design for which one of Dijon's best-known sons, Gustave Eiffel, was famously shunned by local officials. Eiffel left and went to build a tower in Paris instead. Time your visit for Tuesday, Friday or Saturday to buy from local producers direct. The restaurants around the outside also ply local fare – try D'Zenvies (00 33 3 80 50 09 26; dzenvies.com) for the "I Love Dijon" set menu of ham terrine, beef bourguignon and panna cotta at €18 (£14.50).

More details and photos: Dijon: Grand designs in Burgundy's cool capital

Video Tour: Dijon

Take a tour of French Town of Dijon in Dijon, France. More than just mustard, the town of Dijon is the capital of the Burgundy region of east central France.

Dijon is home to many ancient churches, museums, and residences in a wild assortment of colors and patterns. Originally a Roman settlement, Dijon became a city of great wealth and a center of science, art and architecture in Europe. The area is well-known for its wine, cuisine and of course the mustard that is named for the city.


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