Friday, April 8, 2022

Dijon

 

Dijon is the historic capital of Burgundy.

Notre-Dame of Dijon is the church for you if you like gargoyles.

The church was built in the 13th century, and restoration is ongoing. 

Spooky



The stained glass windows are also from the 13th century; some of the originals still exist.

The lucky owl on the side of the church is one of Dijon's main symbols.

Many half-timbered houses with colorful tile roofs still line the streets.

The Ducal Palace houses the Musee des Beaux-Arts de Dijon.

A slightly off-putting well

Fancy containers from the 13th century

An impressive reliquary

Limoges enamel

An Altarpiece of Saint Margaret from 1480

Altarpiece of Emperor Augustus and the Sibyl of Tibur from 1435

Altarpice of the Magi from 1475

Lands ruled by the Duke of Burgundy before Charles the Bold's death in 1477

Charles the Bold on the right with his parents Philip the Good and Isabella of Portugal

A 14th century altarpiece from Ypres

The funerary crown of Philip the Bold, founder of the Burgundian branch of the House of Valois

The tombs of Philip the Bold, John the Fearless, and Margaret of Bavaria

The Dukes of Burgundy were originally buried outside Dijon at a monastery called Chartreuse de Champol, which was destroyed during the French Revolution. Works of art from the monastery have been scattered throughout the world's museums. One of the few left in Dijon is the Well of Moses, which includes a depiction of Moses with horns.

In 1513, after Charles the Bold's failed attempt to conquer Lorraine and subdue the Swiss, armies from Switzerland and the Holy Roman Empire failed to conquer Dijon during the War of the League of Cambrai.

The morning star really seems unusable.


Zweihanders

Detailed powder flasks

Limoges porcelain from the 16th century portraying Roman Emperors

Moo

The Church of Saint Michael (left) was built in the 16th century.

It's entrance is well maintained.

The church next to Saint Michael's houses a museum of sculpture by Francois Rude.

The Archeology Museum of Dijon, housed next to the Cathedral of Saint Benignus, has some interesting pieces, including this bronze jewelry found near Dijon that resembles large quantities of other jewelry found in the Carpathian mountains. 

Fibulae

Saint Benignus had a rough life.

Boo!

The Order of the Porcupine was founded by Louis I, Duke of Orleans as a rival order to the Order of the Golden Fleece, founded by the Duke of Burgundy. The conflict between these two cadet branches of the Valois family was a main reason for French instability during the Hundred Years' War.

Sequana, Gallo-Roman goddess of the river Seine, who's source is near Dijon.

Church crypts make great lapidariums.

France may have the best burgers in the world. And you can't get foie gras burgers in California.

Great wine, strange name

Dijon captures all of France's charms.

Beaune

Beaune is the wine capital of Burgundy and home to the Hospices de Beaune.

The Hospices de Beaune was founded in 1443 as a hospital for the poor.

The Hundred Years' War ended eight years earlier, but marauding mercenaries without contracts still ravaged the French countryside. These groups were called ecorcheurs, which literally means flayers. The chancellor of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, built the hospital to help destitute peasants infected with the plague.

The Pope had to give his permission to build the hospital because it was to be run by a religious order.

The hospital was in operation until 1971.

Burgundy glazed-tile roofs were inspired by similar roofs found in Central Europe.

Nicolas Rolin was Philip the Good's chancellor and helped establish Burgundy's independence as a result of the Hundred Years' War. 

The Beaune Wine Auction has occurred annually since 1859, selling wine grown on land owned by the hospital. The wine is sold by Sotheby's; in other words, it was too expensive for us.

Gaston Gerard Chicken!

 

Besancon

Besancon is the capital of the Franche-Comte region and home to an impressive citadel designed by Vauban.

The city is surrounded by the Doubs river.

The fortress looms high above the city.

The French captured Besancon in 1668 during the War of Devolution, and Vauban drew up a plan for the citadel. The treaty at the end of the war handed the city back to the Spanish Hapsburgs, and the Spanish used Vauban's designs to start improving city defenses. It was too little too late though, and the French recaptured the city for good in 1674 during the Franco-Dutch War.

Today the citadel houses a zoo, amongst other attractions.

Like art

The family of monkeys that lives in this moat area really catches you off guard.

They have a pretty good view.

What's the point of having a human powered machine if people can't run in it anymore?

There's also an aquarium up there!

Kangaroos in a French citadel

Besacon Citadel is a very unique place; the zoo fits there surprisingly well.

The views from the citadel are great as well.

A nice family of hoping lemurs

The peacocks roam free.

The Mouflon

I did not realize llamas slept like that.

Most cities in France have a carousel downtown themed after the city. Victor Hugo was born in Besancon, hence Jean Valjean carrying Marius through the sewer.

French tacos! This one has cordon bleu inside...