View source for Dijon

{{short description|Prefecture of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France}}
{{distinguish|Gijón}}
{{About|the French city}}
{{Use dmy dates|date= January 2014}}
{{Infobox French commune
|name                   = Dijon
| native name         = ''Digion'' ([[Burgundian language (Oïl)|Burgundian]])
| commune status        = [[Prefectures in France|Prefecture]] and [[Communes of France|commune]]
| image                 = {{multiple image
|border                         =  infobox
|total_width                    =  290
|image_style                    =  border:1;
|perrow                         =  1/3/2/1
|image1                         =  Dijon Place du Théâtre 03.jpg
|image2                         =  Porte Guillaume - Dijon (FR21) - 2022-04-18 - 1.jpg
|image3                         =  Dijon - Place François Rude - 2.jpg
|image4                         =  Dijon - Jardin Darcy - 2.jpg
|image5                         =  Dijon - Puits de Moïse - 02.jpg
|image6                         = Tramway de Dijon DSC 0244.JPG
|image7                         = Dijon - Palais des Ducs et des États de Bourgogne - 01.jpg
|caption1 = [[Opéra de Dijon|Place du Théâtre]]
|caption2 = Porte Guillaume
|caption3 = Place François Rude
|caption4 = Jardin Darcy
|caption5 = [[Well of Moses]]
|caption6 = [[Dijon tramway]]
|caption7 = [[Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy]]
}}
|caption                = 
|image coat of arms     = Coat of Arms of Dijon.svg
|image flag             = Flag of Dijon.svg
|arrondissement         = Dijon
|canton                 = [[Canton of Dijon-1|Dijon-1]], [[Canton of Dijon-2|2]], [[Canton of Dijon-3|3]], [[Canton of Dijon-4|4]], [[Canton of Dijon-5|5]] and [[Canton of Dijon-6|6]]
|INSEE                  = 21231
|postal code            = 21000
|mayor                  = [[Nathalie Koenders]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Répertoire national des élus: les maires|url=https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/2876a346-d50c-4911-934e-19ee07b0e503|publisher=data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises|date=12 March 2025|language=fr}}</ref>
|term                   = 2024&ndash;2026
|party                  = [[Socialist Party (France)|PS]]
|intercommunality       = [[Dijon Métropole]]
|coordinates            = {{coord|47.316667|5.016667|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation m            = 245
|elevation min m        = 220
|elevation max m        = 410
|area km2               = 40.41
|population             = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
|population date        = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
|population footnotes   = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
|website                = {{Official URL}}
|demonym=''Dijonnais'' (masculine)<br />''Dijonnaise'' (feminine)}}

'''Dijon''' ({{IPAc-en|UK|ˈ|d|iː|ʒ|ɒ̃}}, {{IPAc-en|US|d|iː|ˈ|ʒ|oʊ|n}};<ref>{{cite LPD|3}}</ref><ref>{{cite EPD|18}}</ref> {{IPA|fr|diʒɔ̃|lang|fr-Dijon.ogg}}; [[Burgundian language (Oïl)|Burgundian]]: ''Digion''){{efn|Translated in other notable and relevant languages:
* {{langx|de|Dision}} {{IPA|de|ˈdɪzi̯oːn|}}<br /> <small>(dated)</small>
* {{langx|it|Digione}} {{IPA|it|diˈdʒoːne|}}
* {{langx|la|Diviō}} <small>or</small> {{lang|la|Diviodūnum}} {{IPA|la|dɪwɪ.ɔˈduːnũː|}}
* {{langx|lmo|Digion}} {{IPA|lmo|diˈdʒũː|}}}} is a city in and the [[Prefectures in France|prefecture]] of the [[Côte-d'Or]] [[Departments of France|department]] and of the [[Bourgogne-Franche-Comté]] [[Regions of France|region]] in eastern [[France]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dijon-congrexpo.com/en/destination-bourgogne.505__729.php|title=Destination Dijon and Burgundy - Palais des Congrès|website=www.dijon-congrexpo.com|access-date=2017-06-19|archive-date=28 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228171747/http://www.dijon-congrexpo.com/en/destination-bourgogne.505__729.php|url-status=live}}</ref> As of 2023, the population of the [[Communes of France|commune]] was 161,830,<ref name="pophist" /> making it the most populous commune in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.

The earliest archaeological finds within the city limits of Dijon date to the [[Neolithic]] [[Period (geology)|period]]. Dijon later became a [[Roman Empire|Roman]] settlement named ''Divio'', located on the road between [[Lyon]] and Paris. The province was home to the [[Duke of Burgundy|Dukes of Burgundy]] from the early 11th until the late 15th centuries, and Dijon became a place of tremendous wealth and power, one of the great European centres of art, learning, and science.<ref>{{Cite web|url= http://www.burgundytoday.com/historic-places/history-of-burgundy/dukes-of-burgundy.htm|title= Dukes of Burgundy, the History of Burgundy, France - burgundytoday|website= www.burgundytoday.com|access-date= 2017-06-19|archive-date= 30 April 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120430025817/http://www.burgundytoday.com/historic-places/history-of-burgundy/dukes-of-burgundy.htm|url-status= live}}</ref>

The city has retained varied [[architectural style]]s from many of the main periods of the past millennium, including Capetian, [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]], and [[Renaissance architecture|Renaissance]]. Many still-inhabited townhouses in the city's central district date from the 18th century and earlier. Dijon's architecture is distinguished by, among other things, ''[[toits bourguignons]]'' (Burgundian polychrome roofs) made of glazed [[terracotta]] tiles of various colours arranged in geometric patterns.

Dijon holds an International and Gastronomic Fair every year in the northern-hemisphere autumn. Dijon also hosts every three years the international flower show ''[[Florissimo]]''. Dijon has become famous for [[Dijon mustard]], which originated in 1856, when Jean Naigeon of Dijon substituted [[verjuice]], the acidic "green" juice of not-quite-ripe grapes, for vinegar in the traditional mustard recipe. Dijon is a [[green city]] with an important tertiary sector, as well as a regional economic centre with a diversified fabric, a traditional food-processing center (Dijon ''crême de cassis'' and kir, gingerbread, Lanvin chocolate...) and a renowned pharmaceutical sector.

On 4 July 2015, UNESCO registered the historical centre of the city as a [[List of World Heritage Sites in France|World Heritage site]], as one of the components of the "[[Climats, terroirs of Burgundy|''Climats'', ''terroirs'' of Burgundy]]" site, because of its historical importance in regulating the system of wine production in Burgundy.<ref name="Unesco.org">{{Cite web |last=mondial |first=UNESCO Centre du patrimoine |title=Les Climats du vignoble de Bourgogne |url=https://whc.unesco.org/fr/list/1425/ |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=UNESCO Centre du patrimoine mondial |language=fr |archive-date=26 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200426213600/https://whc.unesco.org/fr/list/1425/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==History==
{{see also|Timeline of Dijon}}
The earliest archaeological finds within the city limits of Dijon date to the [[Neolithic]] period. Dijon later became a [[Roman Empire|Roman]] settlement called ''Divio'', which may mean ''sacred fountain'', located on the road from [[Lyon]] to Paris. [[Benignus of Dijon|Saint Benignus]], the city's apocryphal [[patron saint]], is said to have introduced Christianity to the area before being martyred.<ref>[https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02479c.htm  Kirsch, Johann Peter. "St. Benignus of Dijon." The Catholic Encyclopedia] Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 24 May 2018</ref> 

This province was home to the [[Duke of Burgundy|Dukes of Burgundy]] from the early 11th until the late 15th century, and Dijon was a place of tremendous wealth and power and one of the great European centres of art, learning and science with [[Dijon Abbey]] playing an influential role. The [[Duchy of Burgundy]] was key in the transformation of medieval times toward [[early modern Europe]]. The [[Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy]] now houses the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) and the [[musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon|musée des Beaux-Arts]] (Museum of Fine Arts).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-01 |title=Musée des beaux-arts de Dijon at DIJON |url=https://en.destinationdijon.com/cultural-heritage/musee-des-beaux-arts-de-dijon/ |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=Tourist Office Dijon Métropole |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 1513, Swiss and Imperial armies invaded Burgundy and besieged Dijon, which was defended by the governor of the province, [[Louis II de la Trémoille]]. The siege was extremely violent, but the town succeeded in resisting the invaders. After long negotiations, Louis II de la Trémoille managed to persuade the Swiss and the Imperial armies to withdraw their troops and also to return three hostages who were being held in Switzerland. During the siege, the population called on the [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Virgin Mary]] for help and saw the town's successful resistance and the subsequent withdrawal of the invaders as a miracle. For those reasons, in the years following the siege, the inhabitants of Dijon began to venerate [[Church of Notre-Dame of Dijon#Statue of Notre-Dame de Bon-Espoir|Notre-Dame de Bon-Espoir]] (Our Lady of Good Hope). Although a few areas of the town were destroyed, there are nearly no signs of the siege of 1513 visible today. However, [[Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon|Dijon's museum of fine arts]] has a large tapestry depicting this episode in the town's history: it shows the town before all subsequent destruction (particularly that which occurred during the French Revolution) and is an example of 16th-century art.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://beaux-arts.dijon.fr/sites/default/files/Collections/pdf/flandre_la_tapisserie_du_siege_de_dijon_apres_1513_interactif.pdf |title=Dijon 1513|publisher= Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon|access-date=2 November 2024}}</ref>

A system of purified water for the citizens of Dijon was constructed by [[Henry Darcy]] a quarter-century before Paris was so supplied.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Freeze|first1=R. Allan|title=Henry Darcy and the Fountains of Dijon|journal=Ground Water|volume=32|issue=1|year=1994|pages=23–30|issn=0017-467X|doi=10.1111/j.1745-6584.1994.tb00606.x|bibcode=1994GrWat..32...23F }}</ref>

Dijon was also occupied by anti-Napoleonic coalitions in 1814, by the Prussian army in 1870–71, and by [[Nazi Germany]] beginning in June 1940, during WWII, when it was bombed by US Air Force B-17 Flying Fortresses,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fold3.com/document/49492859/ |title=Bombing of Dijon, France |publisher=U.S. Air Force |access-date=19 January 2009 |archive-date=2 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202094052/http://www.fold3.com/document/49492859/ |url-status=live }}</ref> before the liberation of Dijon by the [[French Army]] and the French Resistance, 11 September 1944.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.tracesofwar.com/sights/60289/Liberation-Memorial-Dijon.htm |title=Liberation Memorial Dijon|publisher=Traces of War| access-date=2 November 2024}}</ref>

From 12 to 16 June [[2020 Dijon riots|2020, violent riots]] took place that were unprecedented in the city's history, although similar incidents on a smaller scale had preceded them in [[Nice]], [[Rouen]] and [[Troyes]]. In Dijon, violent clashes broke out in one neighborhood over several days when drug dealers and [[Chechens in France|Chechens]] clashed.<ref>{{cite web | title=France vows to end violence in Dijon after fourth night of unrest | work=The Guardian | date=16 June 2020 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/16/france-vows-to-end-violence-in-dijon-after-fourth-night-of-unrest }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=French city of Dijon rocked by unrest blamed on Chechens seeking revenge | date=16 June 2020 | url=https://www.france24.com/en/20200616-french-city-of-dijon-rocked-by-unrest-blamed-on-chechens-seeking-revenge }}</ref>

==Geography==
Dijon is situated at the heart of a plain drained by two small converging rivers: the [[Suzon (river)|Suzon]], which crosses it mostly underground from north to south, and the [[Ouche]], on the southern side of town. Farther south is the ''côte'', or hillside, of vineyards that gives the department its name. Dijon lies {{convert|310|km|0|abbr=on}} southeast of Paris, {{convert|190|km|0|abbr=on}} northwest of [[Geneva]], and {{convert|190|km|0|abbr=on}} north of [[Lyon]].

===Climate===
Dijon features an [[oceanic climate]] (Cfb) with [[continentality|continental influence]] under the [[Köppen climate classification]]. The city is highly influenced by its position far inland in Northeastern France. Thus, winters are cool to cold with moderate frosts at night and thawing conditions during the day while summers are warm to hot and humid with frequent thunderstorms. 
 
{{Clear}}
{{Meteo France
|Town=Dijon
|Sunshine= 1,852.8
|Rain=759.8
|Snow=23.2
|Storm=27.5
|Fog=66.8<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lameteo.org/index.php/12-climatologie/1601-normales-climatiques-1981-2010-dijon|title=Normales climatiques 1981-2010 : Île de Dijon|website=www.lameteo.org|access-date=14 June 2022|archive-date=4 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004170121/https://www.lameteo.org/index.php/12-climatologie/1601-normales-climatiques-1981-2010-dijon|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
<br />
{{Weather box
|location = Dijon (1991–2020 averages, extremes 1921−present)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 16.5
|Feb record high C = 21.1
|Mar record high C = 24.9
|Apr record high C = 29.0
|May record high C = 34.4
|Jun record high C = 37.3
|Jul record high C = 39.5
|Aug record high C = 39.3
|Sep record high C = 34.2
|Oct record high C = 28.3
|Nov record high C = 21.6
|Dec record high C = 17.5
|year record high C = 39.5
|Jan high C = 5.6
|Feb high C = 7.6
|Mar high C = 12.5
|Apr high C = 16.2
|May high C = 20.0
|Jun high C = 24.2
|Jul high C = 26.7
|Aug high C = 26.2
|Sep high C = 21.7
|Oct high C = 16.1
|Nov high C = 9.7
|Dec high C = 6.1
|year high C = 16.1
|Jan mean C = 2.7
|Feb mean C = 3.8
|Mar mean C = 7.5
|Apr mean C = 10.7
|May mean C = 14.6
|Jun mean C = 18.5
|Jul mean C = 20.8
|Aug mean C = 20.4
|Sep mean C = 16.4
|Oct mean C = 11.8
|Nov mean C = 6.5
|Dec mean C = 3.4
|year mean C = 11.4
|Jan low C = -0.2
|Feb low C = 0.0
|Mar low C = 2.6
|Apr low C = 5.2
|May low C = 9.2
|Jun low C = 12.8
|Jul low C = 14.9
|Aug low C = 14.6
|Sep low C = 11.0
|Oct low C = 7.6
|Nov low C = 3.3
|Dec low C = 0.7
|year low C = 6.8
|Jan record low C = -21.3
|Feb record low C = -22.0
|Mar record low C = -15.3
|Apr record low C = -5.3
|May record low C = -3.3
|Jun record low C = 0.8
|Jul record low C = 2.8
|Aug record low C = 4.3
|Sep record low C = -1.6
|Oct record low C = -4.9
|Nov record low C = -10.6
|Dec record low C = -20.8
|year record low C = -22.0
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 56.8
|Feb precipitation mm = 42.9
|Mar precipitation mm = 48.2
|Apr precipitation mm = 57.5
|May precipitation mm = 76.1
|Jun precipitation mm = 65.8
|Jul precipitation mm = 64.9
|Aug precipitation mm = 62.0
|Sep precipitation mm = 56.4
|Oct precipitation mm = 73.6
|Nov precipitation mm = 77.6
|Dec precipitation mm = 61.6
|year precipitation mm = 743.4
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 10.6
|Feb precipitation days = 8.4
|Mar precipitation days = 9.2
|Apr precipitation days = 9.1
|May precipitation days = 10.3
|Jun precipitation days = 8.9
|Jul precipitation days = 7.8
|Aug precipitation days = 7.9
|Sep precipitation days = 7.9
|Oct precipitation days = 9.8
|Nov precipitation days = 11.1
|Dec precipitation days = 11.3
|year precipitation days = 112.3
|Jan humidity = 88
|Feb humidity = 82
|Mar humidity = 76
|Apr humidity = 71
|May humidity = 74
|Jun humidity = 72
|Jul humidity = 68
|Aug humidity = 71
|Sep humidity = 78
|Oct humidity = 85
|Nov humidity = 87
|Dec humidity = 89
|year humidity = 78
|Jan sun = 60.8
|Feb sun = 95.1
|Mar sun = 159.8
|Apr sun = 193.7
|May sun = 215.5
|Jun sun = 240.3
|Jul sun = 256.9
|Aug sun = 239.7
|Sep sun = 190.9
|Oct sun = 118.0
|Nov sun = 66.5
|Dec sun = 52.9
|year sun = 1890.0
|source 1 = [[Meteo France]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://donneespubliques.meteofrance.fr/FichesClim/FICHECLIM_21473001.pdf
| title = Dijon–Longvic (35)
| work = Fiche Climatologique: Statistiques 1991–2020 et records
| publisher = Meteo France
| language = fr
| access-date = 21 July 2022
| archive-date = 7 July 2022
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220707132709/https://donneespubliques.meteofrance.fr/FichesClim/FICHECLIM_21473001.pdf
| url-status = live
}}</ref>
| source 2 = Infoclimat.fr (relative humidity 1961–1990)<ref name=Infoclimat>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303205020/http://www.infoclimat.fr/climatologie-07280-dijon-longvic.html
| archive-date = 3 March 2016
| url = http://www.infoclimat.fr/climatologie-07280-dijon-longvic.html
| title = Normes et records 1961–1990: Dijon–Longvic (21) – altitude 36m
| language = fr
| publisher = Infoclimat
| access-date = 21 July 2022}}</ref>
}}

==Sights==
[[File:Dijon - Porte Guilllaume - 1.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Porte Guillaume (''Guillaume Gate''), Place Darcy (''Darcy Square''), in the center of Dijon.]]

Dijon has a large number of churches, including [[Church of Notre-Dame of Dijon|Notre Dame de Dijon]], St. Philibert, St. Michel, and [[Dijon Cathedral]], dedicated to the apocryphal Saint Benignus, the [[crypt]] of which is over 1,000 years old. The city has retained varied [[architectural style]]s from many of the main periods of the past millennium, including Capetian, [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] and [[Renaissance architecture|Renaissance]]. Many still-inhabited townhouses in the city's central district date from the 18th century and earlier. Dijon architecture is distinguished by, among other things, ''[[toits bourguignons]]'' (Burgundian polychrome roofs) made of glazed [[terracotta]] tiles of various colours arranged in geometric patterns.

[[File:Dijon - Musée des Beaux-Arts - Tombeaux des Ducs de Bourgogne - 09.jpg|thumb|upright|Tomb of [[John the Fearless]] and [[Margaret of Bavaria]], inside the [[Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy]].]]

Dijon was largely spared the destruction of wars such as the 1870 [[Franco-Prussian War]] and the Second World War, despite the city being occupied. Therefore, many of the old buildings such as the [[Timber framing|half-timbered]] houses dating from the 12th to the 15th centuries (found mainly in the city's core district) are undamaged, at least by organized violence.

Dijon is home to many museums, including the [[Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon]] in part of the Ducal Palace (see below). It contains, among other things, ducal kitchens dating back to the mid-15th century, and a substantial collection of primarily European art, from Roman times through the present.

Among the more popular sights is the [[Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy|Ducal Palace]], the ''Palais des Ducs et des États de Bourgogne'' or "Palace of the Dukes and the States of Burgundy" ({{Coord|47|19|19|N|5|2|29|E}}), which includes one of only a few remaining examples of Capetian period architecture in the region. Many art interested visitors flock to the ''Puits de Moïse'' or [[Well of Moses]], a monumental sculpture by [[Claus Sluter]].
 
The church of Notre Dame is famous for both its art and architecture. Popular legend has it that one of its stone relief sculptures, an owl (''la chouette'') is a [[wikt:talisman|good-luck charm]]: visitors to the church touch the owl with their left hands to make a wish. (The current carving was restored after it was damaged by vandalism in the night of 5 and 6 January 2001).

The Grand Théâtre de Dijon, built in 1828 and one of the main performing venues of the [[Opéra de Dijon]], was declared a {{Lang|fr|[[monument historique]]}} of France in 1975. It was designed by the Dijon-born architect [[Jacques Cellerier]] (1742–1814) in the [[Neoclassical architecture|Neo-classical]] style with an interior modelled on Italian opera houses.<ref>{{Base Mérimée|PA00112435|Théâtre, Dijon}}.</ref>

==Transport==
=== Roads ===
Dijon is located approximately {{convert|300|km|mi|abbr=on}} southeast of Paris, about three hours by car along the [[A38 autoroute|A38]] and [[A6 autoroute|A6]] motorways. The [[A31 autoroute|A31]] provides connections to Nancy, Lille and Lyon. The [[A39 autoroute|A39]] connects Dijon with [[Bourg-en-Bresse]] and Geneva, the [[A36 autoroute|A36]] with [[Besançon]], [[Mulhouse]] and [[Basel]].

=== Water transport ===
The [[Canal de Bourgogne]] passes through the heart of Dijon and creates a navigable route to Paris in the north-west via the river [[Yonne (river)|Yonne]], a tributary of the river [[Seine]], and to the [[Saône]] river 25&nbsp;km to the south-east. The canal joins the Saône at [[Saint-Jean-de-Losne]] which is the barging centre of France and Europe. In addition to the connection to the Atlantic via the Seine it has navigable water connections to the Mediterranean—via the Saône to the Rhône river at Lyon and further south (ultimately west to the Atlantic via the [[Canal du Midi]])—Germany and central Europe—via the [[Rhône-Rhine canal]]—plus west to the centre and river Loire via the [[Canal du Centre (France)|Canal du Centre]]. These waterways were largely completed before the 19th century and were the main means of industrial transport until the railways began taking over in the mid-19th century. Today they form a water route for mostly pleasure craft between northern Europe and the south. For example the route through Dijon is popular with those sailing their boats from the United Kingdom to the Mediterranean.

=== Public transport ===
==== Trains ====
Dijon is an important railway junction for lines from Paris to Lyon and [[Marseille]], and the east–west lines to [[Besançon]], [[Belfort]], [[Nancy, France|Nancy]], Switzerland, and Italy. The [[Dijon-Ville station]] is the main railway station, providing service to [[Paris-Gare de Lyon]] by [[TGV]] [[High-speed rail|high-speed train]] ([[LGV Sud-Est]]), covering the {{convert|300|km|mi|abbr=on}} in one hour and 40 minutes. For comparison, Lyon is {{convert|180|km|mi|abbr=on}} away and two hours distant by standard train. The city of Nice takes about six hours by TGV and Strasbourg only 1 hour and 56 minutes via the TGV Rhin-Rhône. [[Lausanne]] in Switzerland is less than {{convert|150|km|0|abbr=on}} away or two hours by train. Dijon has a direct overnight sleeper/couchette service to Milan, Verona and Venice by the operator [[Thello]]. Numerous regional [[TER Bourgogne-Franche-Comté]] trains depart from the same station. There is another railway station east of the city centre, [[Dijon-Porte-Neuve station]], on the line to Is-sur-Tille and Culmont-Chalindrey.

==== Trams ====
A [[Dijon Tramway|new tram system]] opened in September 2012. Line T1 is an {{convert|8.5|km|1|abbr=off}} line with 16 stations running west–east from the [[Dijon railway station]] to [[Quetigny]].<ref name="RG0710">{{cite news|title=Pioneering PPP energises Dijon tram|url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/pioneering-ppp-energises-dijon-tram.html|publisher=Railway Gazette|date=21 July 2010|access-date=25 June 2012|archive-date=24 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120924060958/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/pioneering-ppp-energises-dijon-tram.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Line T2 opened in December 2012, an {{convert|11.5|km|1|abbr=in}} north–south line with 21 stations running between Valmy and Chenôve.

==== Air transport ====
Dijon is served by [[Dole–Jura Airport]] which is located {{convert|51|km|0|abbr=on}} south east of Dijon. However, the airport only provides flights to limited European destinations. The nearest airports are [[Geneva Airport]], located {{convert|195|km|0|abbr=on}} to the south east and [[Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport]], located {{convert|211|km|0|abbr=on}} to the south, both airports provide more domestic and international destinations.

==Culture==
Dijon holds its International and Gastronomic Fair every year in autumn. With over 500 exhibitors and 200,000 visitors every year, it is one of the ten most important fairs in France. Dijon is also home, every three years, to the international flower show ''[[Florissimo]]''.

Dijon has numerous museums such as the [[Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon]], the [[Musée Archéologique de Dijon|Musée Archéologique]], the Musée de la Vie Bourguignonne, the [[Musée d'art sacré de Dijon|Musée d'Art Sacré]], and the [[Musée Magnin]]. It also contains approximately 700 hectares of parks and [[Green belt|green space]], including the [[Jardin botanique de l'Arquebuse]].

Dijon is home to the prominent contemporary art centre [[Le Consortium]], a fine-arts school (ENSA), as well as a number of art galleries like the [[Fonds régional d'art contemporain]], which holds a permanent collection including pieces by locally established artist [[Yan Pei-Ming]].

Apart from the numerous bars, which sometimes have live bands, some popular music venues in Dijon are : Le Zénith de Dijon, La Vapeur, l'Espace autogéré des Tanneries and l'Atheneum.

[[File:Maille Dijon Originale.jpg|thumb|100px|right|A jar of Dijon mustard]]

[[Dijon mustard]] originated in 1856, when Jean Naigeon of Dijon substituted [[verjuice]], the acidic "green" juice of not-quite-ripe grapes, for vinegar in the traditional mustard recipe.<ref>{{cite book|author=Jack E. Staub, Ellen Buchert|title=75 Exceptional Herbs for Your Garden  |publisher=Gibbs Smith|date=18 August 2008|page=170|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zAMiGwoAfQ4C&pg=PA170|isbn=9781423608776 }}</ref> In general, mustards from Dijon today contain white wine rather than verjuice. Dijon mustard is not necessarily produced near Dijon, as the term is regarded as [[Genericized trademark|genericized]] under [[Law of the European Union|European Union law]], so that it cannot be registered for [[Protected Geographical Status|protected designation of origin]] status.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l66044.htm |title=SCADPlus: Protection of Geographical Indications and Designations of Origin |work=Europa (web portal) |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310042208/http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l66044.htm |archive-date=10 March 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Most Dijon mustard (brands such as [[Amora (mustard)|Amora]] or [[Maille (company)|Maille]]) is produced industrially and over 90% of mustard seed used in local production is imported, mainly from Canada. In 2008, Unilever closed its Amora mustard factory in Dijon. Dijon mustard shops sell exotic or unusually-flavoured mustard (fruit-flavoured, for example), often sold in decorative hand-painted ''[[faience]]'' (china) pots.

Burgundy is a world-famous wine growing region, and notable vineyards, such as [[Vosne-Romanée]] and [[Gevrey-Chambertin]], are within 20 minutes of the city center. The town's university boasts a renowned enology institute. The road from [[Santenay, Côte-d'Or|Santenay]] to Dijon is known as the "[[route des Grands Crus]]", where eight of the world's top ten most expensive wines are produced, according to Wine Searcher.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wine-searcher.com/most-expensive-wines |title=World's Top 50 Most Expensive Wines |publisher=Wine-Searcher |access-date=5 May 2009 |archive-date=15 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140215025824/http://www.wine-searcher.com/most-expensive-wines |url-status=live }}</ref>

The city is also well known for its ''[[crème de cassis]]'', or blackcurrant [[liqueur]], used in the drink known as "[[Kir (cocktail)|Kir]]", named after former mayor of Dijon [[canon (priest)|canon]] [[Félix Kir]], a mixture of crème de cassis with white wine, traditionally [[Bourgogne Aligoté AOC|Bourgogne Aligoté]].

==Sport==
Dijon is home to [[Dijon FCO]], a football club with a men's team competing in the Championnat National and [[Dijon FCO (women)|a women's team]] competing in the [[Division 1 Féminine]]. 

Dijon has a its own (Pro A) basketball club, [[JDA Dijon Basket]]. The [[Palais des Sports de Dijon]] serves as playground for the team and hosted international basketball events such as the FIBA [[EuroBasket 1999]] in the past. 

Dijon is also home to the [[Ducs de Dijon|Dijon Ducs]] ice hockey team, who play in the [[Ligue Magnus|Magnus League]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dhc.reseau-concept.net/|title=Duc's Official Website|author=Dijon Hockey Club|language=fr|access-date=1 October 2010|archive-date=2 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100202015225/http://www.dhc.reseau-concept.net/|url-status=dead}}</ref> 

To the northwest, the [[race track]] of [[Dijon-Prenois]] hosts various [[Motorsport|motor sport]] events. It hosted the [[Formula One|Formula 1]] [[French Grand Prix]] on five occasions from 1974 to 1984.

==Colleges and universities==
* Dijon hosts the main campus of the [[University of Burgundy]]
* [[École des Beaux-Arts|École nationale des beaux-arts de Dijon]]
* European Campus of [[Sciences Po Paris]]
* [[École nationale supérieure de biologie appliquée à la nutrition et à l'Alimentation|Agrosup Dijon]]
* [[Burgundy School of Business]]

==Population==

{{Historical populations
| align = none
| cols = 2
| percentages = pagr
| source = EHESS<ref name=ehess>{{Cassini-Ehess|11845|Dijon}}</ref> and INSEE (1968–2023)<ref name=pophist>[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/8643952?geo=COM-21231#tableau-POPREF_G1 Population municipale entre 1968 et 2023], INSEE</ref>
| graph-pos = bottom
|1793 |20760
|1800 |18888
|1806 |22026
|1821 |22397
|1831 |25352
|1836 |24817
|1841 |26184
|1846 |27543
|1851 |32253
|1856 |33493
|1861 |37074
|1866 |39193
|1872 |42573
|1876 |47939
|1881 |55453
|1886 |60855
|1891 |65428
|1896 |67736
|1901 |71326
|1906 |74113
|1911 |76847
|1921 |78578
|1926 |83815
|1931 |90869
|1936 |96257
|1946 |100664
|1954 |112844
|1962 |135694
|1968 |145357
|1975 |151705
|1982 |140942
|1990 |146703
|1999 |149867
|2007 |151543
|2012 |152071
|2017 |156920
|2023 |161830
}}
== Personalities ==

<gallery mode="packed">
 Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet 1.PNG|[[Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet|Jacques Bossuet]]
 Etiennecabet.jpg|[[Étienne Cabet]]
 Gustave Eiffel 1888 Nadar2.jpg|[[Gustave Eiffel]]
 Attribué_à_Joseph_Aved,_Portrait_de_Jean-Philippe_Rameau_(vers_1728)_-_001.jpg|[[Jean-Philippe Rameau|J.P.Rameau]]
 Sophie Rude - Portrait of Francois Rude.jpg|[[François Rude]]
 Jocelyn-Quivrin-Notre-univers.JPG|[[Jocelyn Quivrin]]
</gallery>

* [[Henry, Count of Portugal|Henry of Burgundy]] (c. 1066–1112), Count of Portugal, father of King Afonso I of Portugal
* [[Charles the Bold]] (1433–1477), Duke of Burgundy
* [[Claude-Louis Navier]] (1785–1836), mechanical engineer & physicist
* [[Isabella of Portugal, Duchess of Burgundy|Isabella of Portugal]] (1397-1471), Duchess of Burgundy
* [[Jean Le Fèvre (canon)]] (1493–1565), lexicographer
* [[John the Fearless]] (1371–1419), Duke of Burgundy
* [[Philip the Good]] (1396-1467), Duke of Burgundy
* [[Christian Allard]] (b. 1964), Member of the Scottish Parliament<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msps/currentmsps/63383.aspx |title=Christian Allard – MSPs : Scottish Parliament<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=16 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201232512/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msps/currentmsps/63383.aspx |archive-date=1 February 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
* [[Claude Balbastre]] (1724–1799), composer
* [[Cécile Bart]] (born 1958), artist
* [[Loïs Boisson]] (b. 2003), professional tennis player
* [[Jean-Marc Boivin]] (1951–1990), extreme sports specialist
* [[Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet]] (1627–1704), bishop and theologist
* [[Madjid Bougherra]] (b. 1982), Rangers F.C. footballer
* [[Fabrice Brégier]] (born in 1961), businessman, Chief Operating Officer of Airbus
* [[Antoine Bret]] (1717–1792), French playwright
* [[Jean-Charles Brisard]] (born 1968), international consultant
* [[Thierry Caens]] (b. 1958), classical trumpeter
* [[Laurent Chambertin]] (b. 1966), volleyball player
* [[Jane Frances de Chantal]] (Jeanne–Françoise Frémiot, baronne de Chantal, 1572–1641), founder of the Visitation Order
* [[François Chaussier]] (1746–1828), physician
* [[Anne-Caroline Chausson]] (b. 1977), Olympic medalist in cycling
* [[Bernard Courtois]] (1777–1838), discoverer of the element iodine
* [[Edmond Debeaumarché]] (1906–1959), hero of the French Resistance
* [[Henry Darcy]] (1803–1858), engineer
* [[Jean-Jacques-Joseph Debillemont]] (1824–1879), conductor and operetta composer
* [[Gustave Eiffel|Alexandre Gustave Eiffel]] (1832–1923), engineer and architect
* [[Eugène Foveau]] (1886–1957), classical trumpeter
* [[Jean-Baptiste Gondelier]] (1792–1852), playwright
* [[Roger Guillemin]] (1924–2024), Nobel laureate in Physiology and Medicine
* [[Fernand Gutierrez]] (1950-2006), television chef and restauranteur
* [[Louis-Bernard Guyton de Morveau]] (1737–1816), chemist and politician famous for establishing modern chemical nomenclature<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Smeaton |first=W. A. |date=1967 |title=Louis Bernard Guyton de Morveau, F.R.S. (1737-1816) and His Relations with British Scientists |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/531192 |journal=Notes and Records of the Royal Society of London |volume=22 |issue=1/2 |pages=113–130 |doi=10.1098/rsnr.1967.0011 |jstor=531192 |issn=0035-9149}}</ref>
* [[Hermine Horiot]] (born 1986), classical cellist
* [[Jules Jacquot d'Andelarre]] (1803-1885), politician
* [[Claude Jade]] (1948–2006), actress
* [[Joseph Jacotot]] (1770–1840), educational philosopher
* [[François Jouffroy]] (1806–1882), sculptor
* [[Henri Legrand du Saulle]] (1830–1886), psychiatrist
* [[Alban Lenoir]] (born 1980), actor, stuntman, screenwriter
* [[Jean-Pierre Marielle]] (1932–2019), actor
* [[Charles Joseph Minard]] (1781–1870), civil engineer and first information graphics
* [[Julien Pillet]] (b. 1977), Olympic medalist in sabre fencer
* [[Charles Poisot]] (1822–1904), musicologist
* [[Nicolas Quentin]] (d. 1636), historical painter
* [[Jean-Philippe Rameau]] (1683–1764), composer
* [[Claude-François-Marie Rigoley]], comte d'Ogny, (1756–1790), cellist
* [[François Rude]] (1784–1855), sculptor
* [[Elizabeth of the Trinity]] (Marie–Élisabeth Catez, 1880–1906), Carmelite nun and religious writer
* [[Vitalic]] (born as Pascal Arbez in 1976), electronic music artist

==Twin towns and sister cities==
Dijon is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web|title=Villes partenaires|url=https://www.dijon.fr/Dijon-Capitale/Ville-internationale/Villes-partenaires|website=dijon.fr|publisher=Dijon|language=fr|access-date=2019-11-12|archive-date=16 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916010638/https://www.dijon.fr/Dijon-Capitale/Ville-internationale/Villes-partenaires|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
*{{flagicon|POL}} [[Białystok]], Poland, since 1996
*{{flagicon|ROU}} [[Cluj-Napoca]], Romania
*{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Mechelen]], Belgium
*{{flagicon|MAR}} [[Chefchaouen]], Morocco
*{{flagicon|SEN}} [[Dakar]], Senegal
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Dallas]], United States, since 1957
*{{flagicon|POR}} [[Guimarães]], Portugal
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Mainz]], Germany, since 1958
<!--Pécs, Opole - twinning ended-->
*{{flagicon|CZE}} [[Prague 6]], Czech Republic
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Reggio Emilia]], Italy, since 1963
*{{flagicon|MKD}} [[Skopje]], North Macedonia, since 1961
*{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Volgograd]], Russia, since 1960
*{{flagicon|GBR}} [[York]], United Kingdom, since 1953
{{div col end}}

==See also==
*[[Communes of the Côte-d'Or department]]
*[[Radio Shalom Dijon]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
{{See also|Timeline of Dijon#Bibliography}}
*{{Citation |publisher = John Murray |location = London |title = A handbook for travellers in France |date = 1861 |chapter-url=https://archive.org/stream/handbookfortrave1861john#page/368/mode/2up |chapter=Dijon |ol = 24627024M }}
*{{Citation |publisher = Adam and Charles Black |location = Edinburgh |title = Guide to the north of France |date = 1876 |author = C.B. Black |chapter-url= https://archive.org/stream/guidetonorthfra01blacgoog#page/n478/mode/2up |chapter= Dijon }}
*{{Citation |publisher = Karl Baedeker |location = Leipsic |title = Northern France |date = 1899 |oclc = 2229516 |chapter-url=http://www26.us.archive.org/stream/northernfrance00karl#page/368/mode/2up |chapter= Dijon |ol = 24872324M }}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
*{{Wikivoyage-inline|Dijon}}
*{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Dijon |volume= 8 | pages = 269&ndash;270 |short= 1}}
*{{Official website}} {{in lang|fr}}
*[https://en.destinationdijon.com/ Dijon Tourism – Dijon Metropole Tourist Office]

{{Cities in France}}
{{Préfectures of départements of France}}
{{Prefectures of regions of France}}
{{Côte-d'Or communes}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Dijon| ]]
[[Category:Communes of Côte-d'Or]]
[[Category:Prefectures in France]]
[[Category:Lingones]]
[[Category:Burgundy]]
[[Category:Cities in France]]