Liberation Square is a stunning semicircular plaza in the heart of Dijon’s historic centre. It is home to glorious fountains, statues and important buildings that date back many centuries. Walk through the large pedestrianized square to appreciate its open feel and majestic structures.
Stand in front of the 14th-century Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy and admire its classical design. Here you’ll find the town hall and the Museum of Fine Arts. Learn about the structure’s regal history and the family that once resided here. Look around the museum, which opened in 1787. Its enormous collection includes fascinating items from Egyptian art to 21st-century pieces.
Let your kids splash in the bubbling fountains in the summer. Visit the square in the evening to see the rising jets of water lit up in a range of colours. At night the historic buildings are illuminated in golden light.
Sit at a table extending out from one of the cafés and restaurants along the plaza and watch people strolling past. Have French wines, main dishes enhanced with sauces made with local Dijon mustard and pain d’épices gingerbread. After your meal, relax with a book on a bench and savour the atmosphere in this typically French square as you sip a kir drink of white wine and crème de cassis.
Take a closer look at the 17th-century equestrian statue of Louis XIV. The square was created in the same era as a tribute to this long-reigning monarch.
The plaza has been known under several names over the centuries, beginning as the Royal Square, followed by the Arms Square and the Maréchal Pétain Square in honour of a military leader during World War I.
Liberation Square is just south of the Church of Notre-Dame in the old town area of Dijon. The Magnin Museum, the Square des Ducs and many shops and restaurants surround the plaza. Take a bus or easily walk to the square from many of the sites in the city’s centre.
