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Street in the centre of DijonDijon (pronunciation ▶(?)) is a city in eastern France, the préfecture (administrative capital) of the Côte-d'Or département (county) and of the Bourgogne région. Dijon is the historical capital of the province of Burgundy. Population (1999): 149,867 for the commune; 240,000 for the greater Dijon area.
The current mayor of Dijon is François Rebsamen of the French Socialist Party.
Dijon hosts the main campus of the University of Burgundy (Université de Bourgogne).
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History
Dijon began as a Roman settlement called Castrum Divionense, located on the road from Lyon to Mainz. This province was home to the Dukes of Burgundy from the early 11th century until the late 1400’s and Burgundy was a place of tremendous wealth and power and one of the great European centres of art, learning and science.
Food, drink and other cultural activities
Arc de triomphe known as the Porte Guillaume, on Place Darcy in the centre of Dijon
Dijon and suburbsThe city, approximately one hour and 40 minutes southeast of Paris by the TGV high-speed train, is famous for its mustard, even though nowadays mustard seeds are largely imported. The term Dijon mustard (moutarde de Dijon) designates a method for the making of mustard. Traditional Dijon mustard is particularly strong. Most Dijon mustard (brands such as Amora or Maille) is produced industrially, but the town also specializes in exotic or unusually-flavored mustard, often sold in decorative hand-painted faïence (china) pots. In non-European markets such as the United States the name "Dijon mustard" is not trademarked, so the only way to be sure you are getting real Dijon mustard is to buy a jar that was imported from France; however, true Dijon mustard in exotic flavors can be difficult to find outside France.
As the capital of the Burgundy region, Dijon reigns over some of the best wine country in the world. Many superb vineyards producing vins d'appellation contrôlée, such as Vosne-Romanée and Gevrey-Chambertin, are within 20 minutes of the city centre. The town's university boasts a renowned oenology institute. The drive from Santenay to Dijon, known as the route des Grands Crus, is a wine-lover's dream, passing as it does through an idyllic countryside of exquisite vineyards, rivers, villages, vineyards, forests, vineyards, twelfth-century churches, and more world-class vineyards. The region's architecture is distinguished by, among other things, toits bourguignons (similar to Flemish roofs) made of tiles glazed in terra cotta, green, yellow and black and arranged in eye-catching geometric patterns.
The city is also well known for its crème de cassis, or blackcurrant liqueur, used in the drink known as "Kir" (white wine, especially Bourgogne aligoté, with blackcurrant liqueur, named after former mayor of Dijon canon Félix Kir). The same drink made with champagne instead of white wine is known as un kir royal.
The town centre is one of the best-preserved in France: 60% of the buildings are over 200 years old, the Gothic cathedral's crypt dates from 1000 years ago, and the city centre has many fine houses dating from the 15th through 17th centuries. Dijon was spared the destruction of various wars such as the 1870 Franco-Prussian war, despite the fact that the Prussian army invaded the city.
Dijon is home, every three years, to the international flower show Florissimo.
To the northwest of Dijon, the racing track of Dijon-Prenois hosts various motor sport events. In the past, it once hosted the Formula 1 Grand Prix of France.
The American food writer M.F.K. Fisher, who moved to Dijon shortly after her marriage in 1929, fell in love with the region's cuisine and wrote about it in Long Ago in France.
Births
Dijon was the birthplace of:
- Henry Darcy
- Gustave Eiffel
- Charles, Duke of Burgundy
- Roger Guillemin
- François Jouffroy
- Jean-Philippe Rameau
- François Rude
Colleges and universities
- University of Burgundy (Université de Bourgogne)
- École nationale des beaux-arts de Dijon