Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy
Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy is one of the narrated stops on the self-guided Dijon audio walking tour in Gingerguide. Plan about ~120 min here. Press play at the spot for its two to three minute story, or ask the AI guide anything about it.
- Type palace
- Suggested visit ~120 min
- Dijon Dijon guide
About Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy
The magnificent 14th-century palace of the Dukes of Burgundy, once one of the most powerful courts in Europe, now Dijon's city hall, housing one of France's finest fine arts museums within its medieval and Baroque halls.
The Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy in Dijon stands as one of the great monuments of medieval and early modern European power. It was the seat of the Valois Dukes of Burgundy (1363-1477), who at their peak controlled a realm stretching from Burgundy through Alsace and Lorraine to Flanders and Artois, making them richer and more powerful than the Kings of France they nominally served. The palace today is a complex of buildings from different periods: the medieval Tour Philippe le Bon (1430s) and Tour de Bar are surrounded by an elegant 17th-18th century complex built around a semicircular court designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, architect of Versailles. The main wing contains the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon, which is one of the three or four finest art museums in France outside Paris, particularly renowned for its collection of Flemish and Burgundian medieval art, and above all for the incomparable tombs of Philip the Bold and John the Fearless by Claus Sluter and Claus de Werve, among the greatest works of late medieval sculpture anywhere in Europe.
Did you know? From the top of the Tour Philippe le Bon on a clear day, you can see Mont Blanc, 200 km away in the Alps, making it one of the longest natural viewpoints from any city tower in Europe.
How long should you spend at Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy?
Plan about ~120 min at Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy. That is enough to take it in and hear its narrated story; stay longer if it grabs you. The tour is self-guided, so there is no rush.
Is Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy worth visiting?
Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy is one of the 18 sights the Gingerguide team researched and narrated in Dijon, so it earns a place on a self-guided walk. Its story explains why it matters, and you can ask the AI guide anything the story leaves open.
Nearby stops in Dijon
Hear the story of Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy
Preview the Dijon tour free in the Gingerguide app.