Day 24 - September 11, 2026

Dijon: Dukes, Art, and Burgundian Flavors

After another excellent breakfast at the voco Beaune, we drove to Dijon for a full day of exploring Burgundy’s historic capital. Having enjoyed Beaune so much the previous day, we were curious to see how Dijon would compare.

Our first major stop was the Musée des Beaux-Arts, housed inside the magnificent Palace of the Dukes and Estates of Burgundy. We spent about two hours there, which felt like the perfect amount of time. Rather than trying to see every gallery, we focused on the museum’s highlights—the spectacular medieval tombs of the Dukes of Burgundy, Renaissance masterpieces, and selected paintings from later centuries. I had considered visiting the temporary Djamel Tatah exhibition but ultimately decided to skip it, which turned out to be the right decision. Sometimes less really is more.

After the museum, we slowed down and simply enjoyed wandering through Dijon. We found the famous Owl of Dijon, touched it for good luck like countless visitors before us, and followed part of the Owl Trail through the city’s remarkably well-preserved medieval center. Dijon has an elegant atmosphere—less touristy than some of the Alsace villages we had visited, yet full of architectural details, charming squares, and inviting streets that reward unhurried exploration.

Lunch was at Au Bon Vivant, just across from the covered market. We shared several dishes: a rich, flavorful pâté, fresh burrata with tomatoes, and one of the local specialties—a beautifully cooked Dijon-style chicken leg (the restaurant’s Gérard special). The chicken was outstanding and easily became my favorite dish of the meal.

In the afternoon we stopped by Avril Bio, where I picked up the hair styling gel we had researched earlier. It was very reasonably priced, and after trying it the next day I was pleasantly surprised—it worked really well.

For an afternoon break we stopped at Madeleine Café, sharing a delicious slice of apple and plum pie. It was simple, fresh, and exactly the kind of pastry that makes a French café stop feel worthwhile.

As evening approached, we continued strolling through Dijon’s streets before heading to dinner at Le Petit Roi de la Lune. We shared two hearty Burgundian dishes: a steak topped with Comté cheese and a wonderfully gooey baked Camembert. To finish, we shared a beautiful pavlova topped with fresh strawberries—a light and refreshing ending to a rich meal.

Dijon turned out to be a city that rewards taking your time. Rather than overwhelming visitors with famous landmarks, it offers something subtler: beautiful architecture, excellent museums, wonderful food, and an atmosphere that invites you to wander. It was an unexpectedly relaxing and deeply enjoyable day, and by the time we drove back to Beaune, I felt we had experienced the city at exactly the right pace.