Dijon, Capital of Burgundy

In Dijon, you can treat yourself to a moment out of time. You step through the gates of a city that blends heritage and the art of living with rare elegance. In the heart of Burgundy, the region’s cultural capital shines like a veritable treasure trove where you can reconnect with history, the city and its flavours.

In the entirely pedestrianised historic centre, you can stroll at your own pace past half-timbered façades, Romanesque and Gothic churches, and stately homes that dot the medieval alleyways. Follow the Owl, that mischievous little guide embedded in the cobblestones, which leads you from Place Darcy to its counterpart carved into Notre-Dame. A touch of the left hand upon its weathered stone… and the legend is passed on, like a shared smile.

In the heart of the city, the Palace of the Dukes and States of Burgundy stands as a majestic landmark. It can be seen, proud and inspiring, from the central square. Its Philippe le Bon Tower offers a vibrant panorama of the city: warm-coloured rooftops, countless bell towers, and urban lines that tell a thousand years of history. In the east wing, the Museum of Fine Arts takes visitors on a journey through 1,500 works of art, a sensory experience that blends aesthetics and emotion.

Then, one naturally drifts towards another art form: that of taste. The Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie et du Vin embodies Dijon’s gourmet spirit. Exhibitions, workshops, tastings, restaurants, an immersive wine cellar… Here, you can savour the local cuisine, soak up the rich aromas of fine wines and open your taste buds to Burgundian creativity.

With itsbustling market halls, five Michelin-starred restaurantsand shops open all week round, Dijon cultivates an art of sharing where elegance meets conviviality.

Here, you’ll feel the buzz, savour every moment and breathe deeply: Dijon is anintense experience, right at the heart of Burgundy.

On Saturday 4 July 2015, the World Heritage Committee decided to inscribe the Climats of the Burgundy vineyards on the UNESCO World Heritage List during its 39th session in Bonn, Germany.

The Burgundy wine-growing region has developed over 2,000 years. Its distinctive feature is that it has consistently sought to establish a link with the place (the ‘Climat’) and the year (the ‘vintage’) as markers of the quality of wine production.

This pursuit finds its most accomplished expression along the Côte de Nuits and the Côte de Beaune, across the 60 kilometres linking Dijon to Santenay. Fitting together like pieces of a vast jigsaw puzzle, the Climats form a mosaic of unique crus, featuring some of the most illustrious names. Each Climat has its own history, name, flavour and place in the hierarchy of appellations, as these have been slowly shaped by the genius of the winemaker combined with an exceptional natural environment.

Linked to the towns of Dijon and Beaune, the historic centres of political, economic and cultural power, the Climats of the Burgundy vineyards constitute a unique and living repository of expertise and traditions. Their development over the centuries has given rise to a remarkable landscape and an exceptional architectural heritage, both within the vineyards and in the towns and villages.

Whilst the nomination of the Climats of the Burgundy vineyards for UNESCO World Heritage status has very strong local roots, its significance extends far beyond the region’s borders. It crosses borders and lays the foundations for intercultural dialogue with other regional agricultural traditions, such as those of Colombian coffee, Chinese tea and Indian saffron, amongst others.
These products share a connection to their origins, history and traditional know-how. This was one of the key findings of the wide-ranging symposium held in February 2015 on terroir-based economies.

UNESCO’s recognition of the Burgundian terroir model highlights the importance to humanity of these highly diverse agricultural and cultural products. Their strength lies in providing a response to the threats of standardisation of tastes associated with the globalisation of markets.

World Heritage listing marks a new chapter in the history of the Climats of Burgundy. Just as the creation of the AOCs in 1936 did, it ensures the preservation and transmission of the site for future generations.

It also opens up new horizons, encouraging people to discover and understand the Climats and their history. Ambitious projects are already underway in the region, such as the forthcoming Cité des Vins de Bourgogne in Beaune and the Cité de la Gastronomie in Dijon.