International Student Accommodation in Dijon
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Les Lauréades Dijon 90, rue d'Auxonne, 21000 | |||
| From: 361.0€ pcm | Map | View | |||
City Guide
The City
Located in the heart of Burgundy, Dijon is a medium-sized town, with strong historical and cultural links, which have penetrated the whole of France. Dijon’s prosperity developed in the 14th and 15th centuries when the four Dukes of Burgundy (Philippe le Bon, Jean sans Peur, Philippe le Hardi and Charles le Téméraire) introduced wealth into the region. Since this time, Dijon has become a regional capital with plenty of character and has a wide variety of activities on offer.
Culturally, there is a great deal to see in Dijon. The Musee de Beaux Arts is renowned for being the second museum in France. There is also the archaeological Musee Magnin just off Place de la Liberation and look out for quirky little historic monuments such as the owl (la chouette) which has been carved on one of the exterior walls of the Notre Dame church. Touching this owl with your left hand is said to bring good luck, and in addition to the many tourists the owl attracts, it is not uncommon for locales to do this when passing the owl.
Getting there
One of the most straightforward ways of getting to Dijon is via Eurostar, which arrives at Paris Gare du Nord; then the RER D to Paris Gare de Lyon from which you can take a TGV to Dijon. You can get some pretty good deals if you book your ticket further enough in advance. It is also recommended to compare internet prices to that of the prices offered at the train station; it can sometimes be cheaper to buy your ticket at the train station.
Although Dijon has an airport, it is not used for domestic flights which can be a bit of a hassle. This means travelling again either to Paris CDG, Paris Beauvais, Grenoble, Lyon or Geneva to get to various destinations in the UK. As expected, the budget airlines are where to look for cheap tickets.
University
The university holds an introductory weekend at the start of the 1st semester (as well as one again for students coming for the 2nd semester only), which includes a guided tour around Dijon from some French students and a visit les Hospices de Beaune. Although it can feel like being back at school again, it is a great way to meet fellow Erasmus students from all over the world.
University life in France is very different to that of the UK. The majority of students live in the surrounding area (i.e. somewhere in Burgundy) and every Friday you will see hoards of students with their suitcases making for the train station to spend the weekend at home.
Useful ways to meet French people include volunteering as an English tutor at the university’s language centre. The centre asks that students commit two hours a week of volunteering, which can be fit around your timetable.
The sport department of the university is unparalleled to that of any other French university. The activities offered range from salsa dancing classes to kayaking and skiing trips. The skiing day trips in particular are a great way to meet other students. Costing only 30€ (which includes coach transport to the piste, ski boots and skis, and a ski pass for the day), this trips offers lessons to beginners.
Transport
The compact size of Dijon means that travelling within the city is simple. The bus company ‘Divia’ offers a student buss pass, for a competitive 24€ per month. Otherwise, single tickets (which are valid for one hour) cost 95c and a ‘carte 10 voyages’ costs 7.60€. If you prefer travelling by bike, ‘Velodi’ was introduced at the end of February 2008. For more information on how to obtain a ‘Velodi’ card, visit www.velodi.fr.
Food and Drink
The Burgundy region boasts some of the finest wines in the world, and it is highly recommended to visit the vineyards around Dijon. Marsannay,, Gevery Chambertin and Beaune are just a few villages which should be visited and will give you a real feel of wine production in France. Chateau de Marsannay is particularly recommended for wine tasting. To get there you just take the number 15 bus from Place Darcy. Make sure you go to the tourist office and pick up their leaflet, as you get a special discount on wine tasting.
Local Specialities; Dijon is widely known for its mustard. The brand name of Dijon’s mustard is known as ‘Maille’, of which there is a little boutique on Rue de la Liberté which gives customers the opportunity to try a variety of flavours offered, ranging from traditional whole grain mustard to more exotic seasonal flavours such as fig, tarragon and red berry flavours.
Cassis is a blackcurrant-flavoured liqueur which is a speciality to the Burgundy region. It is reasonably strong at 20% volume, and is usually enjoyed when mixed with white Burgundy wine, known as a Kir (named after one of Dijon’s former mayors). In the warm summer months, cassis can be enjoyed with crushed ice.
Eating Out; Restaurants in Dijon have good set menu deals, with three courses ranging from 15-20€. Cheap and cheerful student places, include a bar on Rue de l’Université, 'La Comedie'. Rue Berbisey and Place Emile Zola also both have a variety of cuisines on offer, ranging from Spanish tapas to Lebenese and even Indian (which is rare in France!).
For more fancy food with a good atmosphere, try the restaurants on my favourite street, Rue Admiral Roussin. They also have a range of foods, from Italian to Moroccan. Another restaurant which should definitely be tried is Grill Laure in Place St Benigne. It is advised that you book in advance, as they are almost always full; this reflects the quality of their food and service!
Out on the town
Some of you may be coming to Dijon from big student hubs, like London, Manchester or Leeds, and it may take a while adjusting to Dijon’s nightlife. Do not be put out though, as the quirky nature of the town during the day is only accentuated at night! One night to definitely avoid going out, is Monday. Most places are shut (for reasons unknown; all I can say is that the French prefer to rest than to make money!) and there are few people about.
Rue Berbisey is definitely one of the streets to visit, and caters to all tastes. There is a relaxed, indie-feel sort of bar called Café Univers. For those of you who enjoy a cocktail or two, Freestyle has an extensive menu, including different flavour mojitos (standard mint as well as mango and strawberry). For banter with the bar staff, don’t miss out on McCarthy’s, an Irish theme pub which is always busy. There are also a few bars on Rue Monge, which are home to mainly Uni students and make sure you definitely go to Trois Coups on Rue Condorcet, where there is sometimes live music and the drinks menu is something that would not be found in England; in terms of sheer variety as well as the cheap price!
Dijon definitely has a thing for Irish bars. As well as McCarthy’s on Rue Berbisey, there is O’Flannery’s on Rue St Benigne (check out the ‘Est 2000’ sign on the front!), which hosts all the major sporting matches. O’Kils on Rue Audra is also great on a Tuesday night, because it hosts an international night where people from different nationalities come together to meet and practice French. It is a great way to meet the many English/American assistants, as well as meeting French people.
In terms of clubs, Le Chat Noir on Place de la Republique is Dijon’s biggest. Most people go here on a Friday or Saturday. It is free before 11pm, but after that it costs 11€, though this price does include a drink. The music ranges from R and B, to more dance/trance, which French people seem to love. This club has the standard big club feel that you could get in Manchester, London or Leeds. For something more authentic, where you will undoubtedly meet a few characters is l’Atmosphere on Rue Audra. This place cannot be summed up in a few sentences, and it is definitely worth visiting. It is free for international students during the week, otherwise it costs 5€ at the weekend, and this price includes a drink. The music includes standard chart R and B, dance and occasionally indie, but you will also learn to love the Arabic and Spanish music that is often played (the Arabic theme runs because the owner is from Tunisia). To get a feel for l’Atmosphere, I am told there is a Facebook group for it, so look it up!
One of the central features of Dijon is Lac Kir, which is located about a fifteen-minute walk away from the centre of town. An artificial sandy beach has been put in place, where swimming and other water activities are enjoyed during the summer months.
Jardin Darcy, located just opposite Place Darcy is an attractive park with a central water feature. This park is a little escape from the hustle and bustle of town life.
Day Tripper
Dijon is located in an unparalleled area of the country, and claims excellent train links to Paris (1 hour 40 minutes by TGV) and Lyon (2 hours by TER). The Swiss Alps are not too far away for those who enjoy skiing during the winter months.
It is highly recommended to travel to the small towns in Burgundy, which is relatively cheap by train. Givery Chambertin, Nuits St Georges, Beaune and Chalon-sur-Saone are just a few of the towns which are easily accessible and will give you a real feel of the rest of the Burgundy region.
How to make life easier
On arrival, make sure you bring numerous passport photos and photocopies of your passport. You will need a piece of identity and proof of address in France for all the necessary practicalities, such as opening a bank account and registering with the university.
Gas and electricity; bills arrive every two months. GDF (Gaz de France) is the main operator of gas supply in France. Although there is no GDF office in Dijon, you can contact them on 0810800801 and they will help you set up a direct debit for paying the bills.
EDF provides electricity and the office is located on Rue de Godrans, opposite the side entrance of H and M in the centre of Dijon. The staff are helpful and friendly and will help you with setting up a direct debit account.
Shops; The size of Dijon means is not exactly the best place for shopping, but there are a couple of shopping centres, the Toisin d’Or (number 7 bus from Place Darcy or number 4 bus from Rue de Godrans) and Quetigny (number 1 bus again from Place Darcy) are both home to various clothes shops and the town’s biggest supermarkets, Carrefour.
Other supermarkets include Casino, on Rue d’Auxonne, Monoprix, which is in Centre Dauphine, just off Rue de la Liberte in the centre of town, and Intermarche on Boulevard d’Universite. Intermarche and Carrefour are the best value for money for students.
Market; Don't forget to check out the local market, which runs three/four times a week and takes place around Les Halles (an indoor market which was designed by the same man who designed the Eiffel Tower!). This market is great for getting local fresh fruit and vegetables, and other local produce such as meat and cheese.
The Christmas Market is also definitely something to look out for; Dijon is beautiful during this time, and the streets are laden with carol singers, as well as little stalls that sell the legendary ‘vin chaud’ and roasted chestnuts.
Partying; In Dijon, as in much of France, be weary if you are having a party during the week if you are staying in private accommodation. There is sort of an unwritten rule that between 11pm and 6am, there should be no unnecessary noise. It is advised to tell your neighbours before hand if you will be having people over.
The carte culture, which can be bought at the tourist office, is great if you enjoy the theatre and music gigs, as it offers you great discounts. It costs 5€. Again remember all the necessary ID requirements (student ID, passport photo, proof of address) in order to obtain this card.
The boring stuff
To view some further information about Bank Accounts & Money transfers, Internet & Telephone and Health, visit our French homepage.
Guide written by Aryan Tadayyon, English exchange student Dijon, 2007/2008.
:: Georgia Neath, Beaune | 09 Jul 2008
Lovely touristy village with a few good bars - Bar du square, Bar au Bout du Monde and a couple of others. Beautiful surroundings so get a bike or car, lovely peole but very expensive town due to tourists. Not an overload to do when it's raining. Good location for travelling as well connect by trains to north (TGV to Paris), south and west ie Al...
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