Dijon

Dijon is the capital city of the Côte-d'Or department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of eastern France. It lies on a plateau above the valley of the Ouche and forms the historic and administrative center of Burgundy. The city has about 160,000 residents, with a metropolitan area of roughly 250,000.

Dijon's history dates to the medieval period when it was developed under the Dukes of Burgundy and became an important administrative and commercial center. The old town preserves medieval streets and monuments, including the Ducal Palace, which now houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon, one of France's oldest regional museums, and the Notre-Dame church. The Saint-Bénigne Cathedral is another major landmark.

The city is closely associated with Dijon mustard, whose recipe originated here in the Middle Ages; Dijon remains a symbol of the product, and mustard production continues alongside food processing and wine trade linked to nearby Burgundy vineyards.

Dijon hosts the University of Burgundy, a major center for education and research. It is served by Dijon-Ville railway station with high-speed TGV links to Paris and Lyon, and is connected by highways to other Burgundy towns.

The climate is oceanic with continental influences, bringing warm summers and cool winters.