What is the ‘Chouette’ trail?

This is a walking tour of Dijon’s historic centre, designed to help you discover the city’s main heritage sites without getting lost – well, unless you decide to follow another owl along the way.

How long will it take?

Allow about an hour’s walk to complete the entire route. It’s a short walk, but one that offers a lovely taste of the local heritage.

What can you see during the tour?

The tour comprises 22 stops and takes in, amongst other places, Rue des Forges, Notre-Dame Church, the Maison Millière, the Palace of the Dukes, Sainte-Bégnine Cathedral and the Halles de Dijon. In other words, Dijon is pulling out all the stops.

How much does it cost, and where can I collect the booklet?

The walking trail costs €4 and the guidebook is available from the tourist information office’s visitor centres . A great way to enjoy a walk without ending up like a lost explorer.

A must-see in Dijon In the footsteps of of the Owl

We explored the historic centre of Dijon as a family, following the ‘Chouette’ trail. This one-hour walking tour takes in the main heritage attractions of the capital of Burgundy in 22 stops.

From

4 €

From

4 €

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes – 2 hours
Available all year round
10 languages available

ALLER À L'ESSENTIEL

Bronze arrows bearing the image of the Owl

To make sure you don’t miss any of Dijon’s must-see sights, simply follow the bronze arrows nestled amongst the cobblestones of the conservation area. The Owl of Dijon remains the city’s mascot. Perched on a buttress of Notre-Dame, she has become a good-luck charm for passers-by who stroke her with their left hand – the hand of the heart. We can’t wait to find her and make a wish of our own as we stroke her.

But before that, we’ll pop into the Tourist Office at 11 Rue des Forges to pick up the tour booklet!

22 ways to savour the charm of Dijon

Leaving the tourist information office, we begin the tour on Rue des Forges, which is home to three magnificent townhouses. The route then takes us toNotre-Dame Church, topped by the Jacquemart, which sets the rhythm of life in the neighbourhood.

Just a few steps away, we stroke the famous carved owl before admiring, a little further on, the 15th-century Maison Millière and the courtyard ofthe Hôtel Vogüe. Along the way, we cross Rue Verrerie, a typical medieval street home to the antique dealers’ quarter.

Around the theatre, the route takes us tothe Church of Saint-Michel, which houses the Musée Rude, where you can see casts of works by the Dijon-born sculptor François Rude. A break at the Square des Ducs allows us to enjoy the coolness of the garden. We continue towards the Palace of the Dukes and States of Burgundy, which currently houses the Town Hall and theMuseum of Fine Arts.

We cross the large Place de la Libération to reach the churches of Saint-Jean and Saint-Philibert, then the majestic Gothic cathedral of Sainte-Bégnine. In this ‘city of a hundred bell towers’, the cathedral boasts the tallest, standing at 93 metres high!

We return to the official start of the route at the Jardin Darcy to complete the loop. On Place Grangier, the pagoda-style roofs of the Art Nouveau building next tothe Hôtel des Postes pique our curiosity.

We round off this short city walk at the Halles de Dijon, built in the Eiffel style at the end of the 19th century. How lucky that it’s Sunday! We make the most of the summer event,‘Le brunch des Halles’, to sample the menu created by a Dijon chef and treat ourselves to a meal that’s as gourmet as it is festive!

Further information

Period of validityAll year round

PRICES€4

Good to know

Brochure available at our reception points

In a nutshell

Follow the bronze ‘Owl’ arrows and discover Dijon in a different light on a stroll through the heart of the historic centre. Spanning 22 stops, this unmissable route takes you from heritage treasures and stately homes to the Halles de Dijon.

Accessibility

The Chouette route mainly passes through pedestrianised streets in the historic centre, some of which are cobbled or narrow, which may restrict access for people with reduced mobility and wheelchair users.

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