Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy

About this place

This palace records the changing importance of Dijon from the medieval duchy of Burgundy to later royal and civic government. Parts of the 14th- and 15th-century ducal residence survive within a complex largely reshaped during the 17th and 18th centuries. Its towers and older spaces contrast with the more regular classical façades. Look for these differences rather than expecting a single-period building. The ensemble shows how a seat of power could be retained and transformed, allowing new institutions to occupy a location already rich in political meaning.