Things to Do Attractions Travel Guide
Bourgogne-Franche-Comte is a region of extraordinary diversity. In a single trip, you can explore medieval city centres, walk through some of the world's most famous vineyards, hike the limestone peaks of the Jura Mountains, and visit UNESCO World Heritage sites that date back nearly a thousand years. This guide covers the very best things to see and do across the region.
Dijon is a near-perfect French city. Its historic centre is one of the largest and best-preserved in France, with over 100 buildings protected as historical monuments. The centrepiece is the magnificent Palais des Ducs et des Etats de Bourgogne, a vast ensemble spanning the 14th to 17th centuries that once housed the powerful Dukes of Burgundy. Today it contains the city hall and the Musee des Beaux-Arts, one of France's finest art museums.
Do not miss the Chouette Trail (Parcours de la Chouette) — a self-guided walking route marked by 22 bronze owl plaques embedded in the pavement. Each owl marks a point of interest, from half-timbered houses to Gothic churches. The entire route takes about 90 minutes and provides an excellent introduction to the city. The owl is Dijon's mascot; rub the owl at the Notre-Dame church for good luck.
Other highlights include the Notre-Dame de Dijon, a masterpiece of 13th-century Gothic architecture; the Rue des Forges with its Renaissance mansions; and the Cour de Bar, a hidden courtyard of medieval half-timbered houses. The Saturday morning market at Les Halles (designed by Gustave Eiffel's firm) is a feast of regional produce and one of the best free experiences in the city.
The Hospices de Beaune (Hotel-Dieu) is the most recognisable building in Burgundy — a masterpiece of Flamboyant Gothic architecture with its world-famous polychrome glazed roof tiles. Built in 1443 by Nicolas Rolin, chancellor to the Duke of Burgundy, as a charity hospital for the poor, it operated as a hospital until 1984.
The highlight is the Salle des Pauvres — the main ward, with its vast timber roof, 28 beds (originally far more), and the chapel at one end where patients could see Mass from their beds. The museum also displays the Polyptych of the Last Judgement by Rogier van der Weyden, a 15th-century Flemish masterpiece commissioned for the Hospices.
The Hospices also owns 60 hectares of vineyards in the Cote de Beaune, donated over centuries. The annual wine auction held on the third Sunday of November is the world's most famous charity wine auction and sets Burgundy price benchmarks for the year. Visits cost EUR12 for adults, allow 90 minutes, and advance booking is recommended in summer.
The Route des Grands Crus is the most famous wine road in France. It stretches 60 kilometres from Dijon through the Cote de Nuits and Cote de Beaune, passing through legendary wine villages: Gevrey-Chambertin, Chambolle-Musigny, Vougeot, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Aloxe-Corton, Pommard, Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet, among many others.
Each village has its own character. Gevrey-Chambertin produces famously powerful Pinot Noirs. Chambolle-Musigny is known for elegant, perfumed wines. Vougeot is home to the magnificent Chateau du Clos de Vougeot, a 12th-century Cistercian winery where the Confrerie des Chevaliers du Tastevin holds ceremonies.
Most domaines offer tastings by appointment. Some require booking weeks in advance, especially in the famous appellations. September and October are the most atmospheric months, when the harvest is underway and the vineyards are golden. A bicycle is an excellent way to explore the route — several companies in Beaune rent bikes and offer guided tours.
Perched dramatically 118 metres above the Doubs River, the Citadelle de Besancon is one of the greatest fortifications ever built. Designed by the Marquis de Vauban, Louis XIV's military engineer, it was completed in 1684 and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site as part of the Fortifications of Vauban network.
The citadel covers 11 hectares and houses three museums: the Musee de la Resistance et de la Deportation (one of France's best WWII museums), the Musee Comtois (dedicated to Franche-Comte regional culture and traditions), and the Museum d'Histoire Naturelle with a small zoo. The panoramic views from the ramparts across Besancon and the Doubs valley are breathtaking.
Allow at least three hours for a thorough visit. The citadel is a steep 20-minute walk from the city centre, or take the shuttle bus from Place de la Revolution. Entry costs EUR12.80 for adults. The afternoon light from the western ramparts is spectacular for photography.
Forty minutes north-west of Dijon, deep in a wooded valley, lies the Abbaye de Fontenay — the oldest preserved Cistercian abbey in the world. Founded by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux in 1118, it embodies the Cistercian ideal of simplicity, spirituality and self-sufficiency.
The abbey church, cloister, chapter house, dormitory, forge and mill have survived almost intact for 900 years. The Romanesque architecture is severe and beautiful — unadorned stone, perfect proportions, and light that filters through simple arched windows. The medieval forge is one of the oldest surviving industrial buildings in Europe.
The abbey was purchased by the Aynard family in 1906 and carefully restored. It remains privately owned but has been open to the public since 1912. Allow 90 minutes to two hours. Entry costs EUR12.80. The setting alone — a quiet valley with a stream running through the grounds — makes it one of France's most serene historical sites.
The Jura Mountains offer some of France's finest outdoor recreation, from gentle lakeside walks to challenging multi-day mountain traverses. The Parc Naturel Regional du Haut-Jura covers 1,700 square kilometres of forests, high pastures (montagnes) and dramatic limestone escarpments.
The GR 5 long-distance trail runs the length of the Jura range. A particularly scenic section runs from Les Rousses to Saint-Claude, passing the beautiful Lac des Rousses and through dense pine forests. For shorter walks, the area around Les Cascades du Herisson features seven waterfalls along a 7-kilometre trail — one of the most popular day hikes in the region.
In winter, the Jura transforms into a ski destination. Les Rousses is the main resort, with 220 kilometres of downhill runs and 50 kilometres of cross-country trails. Metabief offers good family skiing with 40 kilometres of slopes. Both are significantly less expensive than the Alps and far less crowded.
The Canal de Bourgogne stretches 242 kilometres from the Yonne valley to the Saone, passing through Dijon. The flat, well-maintained towpath (chemin de halage) is perfect for cycling. The most scenic section runs between Dijon and Saint-Jean-de-Losne, where the canal passes through rolling Burgundy countryside with vineyards, locks and lock-keepers' cottages.
Bike rental is available in Dijon at several locations near the train station and the canal. The full 40-kilometre route from Dijon to Saint-Jean-de-Losne takes about 2-3 hours one way and can be done as a day trip with a stop for lunch in Seurre or Losne.
Perched on a rocky outcrop near Pontarlier in the Jura, the Chateau de Joux is a spectacular fortress that has been continuously fortified from the 11th century through to the Second World War. It served as a state prison where the Haitian revolutionary Toussaint Louverture was imprisoned and died in 1803.
The chateau offers guided tours through its medieval towers, Vauban fortifications and prison cells. The views across the Jura mountains are magnificent. It makes an excellent day trip from Besancon (90 minutes by car).
Day 1: Explore Dijon's old town, Palais des Ducs, Chouette Trail. Day 2: Drive the Route des Grands Crus, visit Beaune and Hospices de Beaune. Day 3: Visit Abbaye de Fontenay in the morning, enjoy a wine tasting afternoon.
Day 1-2: Dijon and Abbaye de Fontenay. Day 3: Route des Grands Crus and Beaune. Day 4: Besancon citadel. Day 5: Jura Mountains hiking or Les Rousses.
Add day trips to Chateau de Joux, the Cascades du Herisson, and the Plateau des Mille Etangs. Include a cooking class in Dijon or a full-day wine tour from Beaune.
The top attractions include the Palais des Ducs in Dijon, the Hospices de Beaune, the Citadelle de Besancon (UNESCO), the Abbaye de Fontenay (UNESCO), the Route des Grands Crus wine trail and the Jura Mountains for hiking and skiing.
A minimum of 5-7 days is recommended to explore the main highlights: 2 days for Dijon, 1-2 days for Beaune and the Route des Grands Crus, and 2-3 days for Besancon and the Jura Mountains.
Yes, Dijon is only 1 hour 40 minutes from Paris by TGV, making it feasible for a day trip. However, the region is best experienced over several days to explore the vineyards, Jura Mountains and smaller villages.