Dijon City Profile

Dijon City Profile

Dijon City Profile

Dijon is the capital city of the historical Burgundy region in eastern France, one of the country’s principal wine-making areas.

The earliest archaeological finds within the city limits of Dijon date to the Neolithic period. Dijon later became a Roman settlement called Divio, which may mean a sacred fountain, located on the road from Lyon to Paris. Saint Benignus, the city’s apocryphal patron saint, is said to have introduced Christianity to the area before being martyred.

Dijon is situated at the heart of a plain drained by two small converging rivers: the Suzon, which crosses it mostly underground from north to south, and the Ouche, on the southern side of town. Further south is the côte, or hillside, of vineyards that give the department its name.

The historical centre of the city has been registered since 4 July 2015 as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Dijon is 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 Facts

  • The city limits of Dijon date to the Neolithic period.
  • Dijon began as a Roman settlement called Divio.
  • Dijon hosted the Formula 1 French Grand Prix on five occasions from 1974 to 1984.

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Dijon City Profile
Dijon City Profile