The Owl's Trail

We just completed walking the Owl's Trail, which I mentioned in the last post. It took us about 90 minutes to complete, so I thought I'd dedicate this post to the trail in its entirety. Hopefully, it won't take you 90 minutes to read, and it shouldn't hurt your feet in the slightest. Enjoy.

Stop 1 - Jardin Darcy. This was the town's first public garden, created in 1880.

Stop 2 - The facade of the Hotel de la Cloche. Famous establishment in Dijon since the 15th century.

Stop 3 - Porte Guillaume. This 18th century triumphal arch is named after Guillaume Volpiano, the 11th century reformer of the Saint-Benigne Benedictine abbey.

Art nouveau building with pagoda roofs.

Stop 4 - Hotel des postes

Stop 5 - Covered market. On market days this area comes to life, ablaze with colour and filled with wonderful smells. Built 1873 - 1875.

Stop 6 - Place Francois Rude. This square was constructed in 1904 after the demolition of a block of old houses.

Stop 7 - Hotel Aubriot. In the cellars of this 13th century house that the monetary reserves were stored.

This is Maison Maillard, erected for Jean Mailard, Mayor of Dijon, in 1560.

Stop 8 - Notre-Dame. A masterpiece of Burgundy architecture of the 13th century, Notre-Dame has a remarkable facade, decorated with fine arcatures and rows of false gargoyles.

Stop 9 - Over the centuries, this owl has become a good luck charm for passers-by who rub it with their left hand.

Stop 10 - Maison Milliere. this house was built in 1483 and it has kept its typical medieval appearance. The facade has trained its wooden-beam walls, filled with enamelled bricks.

Stop 11 - L'Hotel de Vogue. This is the best example of a 17th century townhouse between courtyard and garden.

Inside of above

Stop 12 - The theatre. Built in neo-classic style at the beginning of the 19th century.

La Nef. This is located in the former abbey church of St. Etienne.

Eglise St. Michel

Stop 13 - Square des Ducs. This small garten is all that remains of the huge created for Marguerite De Flandres, the wife of Philip The Bold.

Philip The Bold

Stop 14 - Tour Philippe Le Bon. This tower dominates the town at a height of 45 metres. Erected in the 15th century.

Stop 15 - Palais des Ducs.

Stop 16 -  Place de la Liberation. this semi-circular square was designed in 1685.

Stop 17 - Palais de Justice. Designed for the old Burgundy Parliament in the 16th century.

Stop 18 - Private mansions, representative of the houses of the parliamentarians of Dijon.

Stop 19 - Saint-Jean and Place Bossuet. Bossuet was born in Dijon in 1627. The church was converted to a theatre in 1974.

Stop 20 - Saint-Philibert. The porch of this ancient Saint-Philibert Church served as the place for the election of the town's mayors until the French Revolution. During the revolution it became a storage room for salt.

Stop 21 - Saint-Benigne. From the time of the ancient abbey rebuilt from the year 1000 by Guillaume de Volpiano. It is here that the relics of Saint-Benigne, the 1st apostle of Burgundy are to be found.