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Burgundy & Dijon ATTRACTIONS See all
Palais des Ducs et des Etats de Bourgogne (Dijon Ducal Palace)
The seat of Burgundian power was in Dijon, and in Dijon, it was found
in the fabulous Palais des Ducs et des Etats de Bourgogne, more simply
known as the Ducal Palace. Originally built as a small fortress, it was
rebuilt in the latter half of the 14th century by Philip the Bold, the
first Duke of Valois. Some of this Gothic construction is still visible,
and it provides an interesting contrast to the classicism exhibited
much of the rest of the church, which was added in the 17th and 18th
centuries. The Ducal Palace is one of the few remaining monuments of the
Capetian period in Burgundy. Its most famous feature is the Tour
Phillippe le Bon, which overlooks the whole city.
Today, the
palace is still the scene of Dijon politics, as the Mayor of Dijon and
other administrators are officed within its walls. It's also a museum;
the ground floor is dedicated to the building's and Dijon's history, and
its east wing contains the Musee des Beaux-Arts, one of the most
important art museums in all of France. The Musee des Beaux-Arts'
collection includes medieval and Renaissance sculpture and paintings
(representing both the Italian and Northern Renaissances).
