Brazil
Argentina
Bolivia
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
French Guiana
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
Germany
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Denmark
Spain
Finland
Greece
the Netherlands
Hungary
Ireland
Iceland
Italy
Luxembourg
Norway
Poland
Portugal
the United Kingdom
the Czech Republic
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
the United States
Mexico
the Dominican Republic
South Africa
Australia
Fiji
Historic neighborhood · Dijon, Borgonha-Franco-Condado
Parcours de la Chouette
Walking circuit through Dijon’s historic centre, marked by triangular bronze arrows with an owl on the pavement. It passes the Palais des ducs, Notre-Dame, the Rue des Forges, the Halles and townhouses from the 15th to 18th centuries.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Parcours de la Chouette
The Parcours de la Chouette is the simplest way to see Dijon’s centre on your own. The route is marked on the ground by triangular bronze arrows bearing an owl, and each numbered stop corresponds to a point of interest. The tourist office sells a booklet that explains each stage.
The circuit was created in 2001 by the tourist office, which chose the chouette — the small stone owl of Église Notre-Dame — as its symbol. The route runs through the protected sector of the centre, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing together with the climats of the vineyards of Borgonha: the city was the political centre that organized wine production in the region.
Along the way are the Palais des ducs, the Place de la Libération, Église Notre-Dame with the owl, the Rue de la Chouette with the Hôtel de Vogüé and the Maison Millière with its timber façade, the Rue des Forges with its hôtels particuliers, the Halles and the Rue de la Liberté.
On the route you’ll spot the patterned roofs of glazed tiles in coloured lozenges, a hallmark of Borgonha architecture, and the mustard shops and pain d'épices, the spiced honey cake, another Dijon speciality.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About an hour for the route without entering monuments. With stops, half a day.
Best time
In the morning, to combine with the Halles market, which operates on some mornings of the week. In the late afternoon the pedestrian streets come alive. In winter it gets dark around 5:00 pm.
How to get there
The route can start at any point in the centre. From Dijon-Ville station, follow the Rue de la Liberté to the Place François Rude and look for the bronze arrows in the pavement.
Tip
Buy the booklet at the tourist office to understand each stop. Wear comfortable shoes: the paving is stone. The mustard shops on Rue de la Liberté are along the way.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Parcours de la Chouette
Do you need a guide to do the Parcours de la Chouette?
No. Bronze arrows in the ground indicate the route and the tourist office sells a booklet explaining each stop.
How long does the route take?
About an hour walking without stops. With visits to monuments and a coffee break, allow half a day.
Is the route accessible for people with mobility difficulties?
The centre is flat and mostly pedestrian, but the cobblestones can hinder wheelchairs and strollers.