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Dijon is the capital of Burgundy and the town built up around its Roman wall in the 14th and 15th centuries. History has been extremely kind to Dijon. Although in the Middle Ages it
was regularly pillaged and burned, since then it has been spared the destruction endured by other French cities in wars, invasions and bombardments, so the past is alive and flourishing in the city's narrow streets of medieval
and Renaissance houses, now carefully protected in pedestrian-only areas.
The Dukes of Burgundy ruled this prosperous duchy from their great palace, the Palais des Ducs (Ducal Palace), which is now a city
hall and also houses one of the best museums in France, the Musee des Beaux-Arts. The splendor of the court at the Ducal Palace attracted many artists who came from every part of the duchy and produced great works of art.
Today, Dijon is a university town, and a large shopping, cultural and gastronomic center. Dijon is recognized worldwide for its mustard; five factories in the area produce over 100 different types of
mustard. It is also famous for its cassis, the black currant liqueuer added to white wine to make the aperitif called kir.
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