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A Short Break in Dijon Take a short break to Dijon – there’s a wealth of things to explore from the Dukes of Bourgogne to the nightlife in this university town.
A no-fuss way to travel to Burgundy is to take the Eurostar to Lille and then connect with the TGV fast train to Dijon, total journey time – 5½hrs. Leaving London St. Pancras Eurostar terminus early afternoon, you are in Dijon in time for a late supper. The town centre is compact so everything is within strolling distance. From Brussels the journey time is 4½hrs. Of course there are security checks, but this is a comfortable, relaxed experience, and it's eco-friendly too. are offering return journeys to Dijon from £89. A cheaper alternative is to go by Flixbus, the intercity service through Europe with tickets from five euros. There is a route from Paris via Auxerre to Dijon taking four hours.
Close to the hotel in Place Emile Zola and Rue Berbisey is the student quarter which comes to life at night and has a selection of international restaurants. Talking of nightlife, there's Le Chat Noir, in Garibaldi Street, and the new Le Caveau de la Chouette in Rue des Godrans. A new trend in the centre of the city is the conversion of some of the majestic 17thC buildings into apartments for holiday rental. You can buy delicious looking (and tasting) local food from the market and prepare it in the apartment, a real home from home.
A wander into the old quarter of town around the Palais du Ducs is a must. There are lovely old half-timbered buildings, stylish boutiques and coffee shops. Views from the Tour Philippe le Bon over the tiled roof tops and spires are particularly good. Further information from one of the two tourist offices – at the Palais itself or at the station. Within the Palais des Ducs is the Musée des Beaux Arts housing the most significant collection of paintings outside Paris (closed Tuesdays). The shops in Dijon are chic. Head for the Rue de la Liberté, Rue du Bourg and Rue Bossuet; take home pain d'epice from Mulot and Petitjean, fresh mustard from Amora, and Crème de Cassis for kir apéritifs to remind you of your visit. If you would like to go on wine tasting tour while visiting Dijon, the Côte d’Or lies to the south, a fifteen minute drive outside the town. A visit to Gevrey Chambertin and the route of the Grands Crus can be arranged during your visit, see Max Renau's The finer details London St. Pancras
departure 15.04 local time, arriving Lille 17.26 local time.
Time for a coffee, then Lille to Dijon TGV departs 19.00 from Lille, arriving
at 21.43. Brussels
departure time 16.56 arriving Lille 17.29. These trains are
direct, otherwise it means going via Paris.
Comparative, competitive quotes online with
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