 Dijon is more than just the birthplace of one of the world’s premier mustards. It is also the historic powerbase of the Dukes of Burgundy and the capital of this richly cultural region of France. Its location in the Côte d’Or provides it with excellent wine growing conditions, stunning pastoral scenery and pleasant weather. Dijon is well known for blending its stately medieval architecture with a hip and youthful ambiance.
 There are excellent museums in Dijon such as the impressive Museum of FineArts and important historical buildings like the Palace of the Dukes. Most of the city’s highlights are packed into the old city core, making it easy to experience a lot in a short period of time. Dijon’s medieval atmosphere centres on Notre Dame Cathedral and the Palace compound. A handful of ancient monuments round off the list of notable landmarks.
 Dijon is also considered one of France’s essential culinary hubs. Taking all the best elements of Burgundy’s food and wine, visitors will have their hands full trying to fit in all the incredible dining options in this city. To help work off some of those calories, Dijon has excellent cycling and boating facilities. Miles of bike paths pass through the wine-drenched countryside, while the charming BurgundyCanal network runs right through the town.
 The city offers a full range of accommodation options for every budget. There are a number of excellent four-star hotels and a rising field of quaint boutique hotels to satisfy those in search of a touch of luxury. Visitors looking for the ultimate Burgundy experience can splash out on a stay in one of the area’s stellar chateau-hotels situated within the vineyards around Dijon.
 The best way to get to Dijon is by land. Flying into the city’s humble airport is extremely restrictive due to a neighbouring military air base. It’s far better to hire a car and enjoy the sublime scenery of Burgundy en route to Dijon. Train travel is another excellent choice, as the high-speed TGV trains run right from Paris to the heart of Dijon. Long-distance coaches also roll into the city everyday from destinations across Europe.
Weather
Dijon enjoys a typical continental climate, with four distinct seasons that are not extreme in nature. Summers are pleasantly warm and dry, with average temperatures hovering around 25°C and infrequent heat waves that can push the mercury to uncomfortable levels. Occasional afternoon thunderstorms help cool things off and rinse down the dust. Winters are cold, but bearable. The temperatures can drop into the freezing realm during the height of winter, but this season also sees plenty of bright sunny days to lift your spirits.
 Spring and autumn are perhaps the most enjoyable seasons in Dijon, as the weather embodies a sense of impending change. Autumn is the time for harvesting the grapes and when vineyards across the region spring into life. Delightfully cool temperatures and brilliant foliage make this season extremely popular for good reason. Spring isn’t too bad either, as the flowers and new leaves suddenly appear. Rainfall is at its highest during these shoulder seasons, so bring a good umbrella.
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