Place François Rude
Place François Rude is one of the narrated stops on the self-guided Dijon audio walking tour in Gingerguide. Plan about ~30 min here. Press play at the spot for its two to three minute story, or ask the AI guide anything about it.
- Type square
- Suggested visit ~30 min
- Dijon Dijon guide
About Place François Rude
The lively market square in the heart of Dijon's pedestrianised old town, named after the sculptor François Rude, surrounded by cafés, wine bars, and a fountain, the most animated outdoor meeting place in the city.
The Place François Rude is the animated heart of Dijon's pedestrianised old town, a lively market square surrounded by cafés with outdoor terraces, wine bars, restaurants, and the occasional market stall. It is named after François Rude (1784-1855), the Dijon-born sculptor best known for his monumental bas-relief "La Marseillaise" (Le Départ des Volontaires de 1792) on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. A copy of his most famous work in Dijon, a sculpture group from 1857, stands at one end of the square. The square is enclosed by historic buildings and has a lively fountain at its centre, making it one of the most pleasant places in the city to sit outside. Wine bars around the square serve Burgundy wines by the glass, often accompanied by gougères and charcuterie from the nearby covered market Les Halles de Dijon, which is just steps away. The Place François Rude is also the starting point for many of Dijon's walking tours, and the tourist office's "owl trail" (sentier de la chouette) passes through it.
Did you know? François Rude's 'La Marseillaise' bas-relief on the Arc de Triomphe is considered one of the great works of 19th-century French sculpture, its central winged figure became the model for countless allegorical representations of the French Republic.
How long should you spend at Place François Rude?
Plan about ~30 min at Place François Rude. That is enough to take it in and hear its narrated story; stay longer if it grabs you. The tour is self-guided, so there is no rush.
Is Place François Rude worth visiting?
Place François Rude is one of the 18 sights the Gingerguide team researched and narrated in Dijon, so it earns a place on a self-guided walk. Its story explains why it matters, and you can ask the AI guide anything the story leaves open.
Nearby stops in Dijon
Hear the story of Place François Rude
Preview the Dijon tour free in the Gingerguide app.