Hôtel des Postes de Dijon, Dijon, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The building at 8 Rue de la Chouette in Dijon, listed here as the Hôtel des Postes, is a 17th-century mansion in the old town, a few steps from the church of Notre-Dame and the little carved owl that Dijon is known for. It is a fine example of a townhouse that blends a classical layout with Renaissance decoration, and it is best enjoyed as part of a stroll through the streets around it.

The story behind it

The mansion was built for Etienne Bouhier, an adviser to the Parliament of Burgundy. Through marriage it later passed to the Vogüé family, which is why the name Vogüé is often attached to it. Its design is strictly classical, yet the carved decoration keeps the refined, ornamental taste of the Renaissance.

A monogram on the building reads E.B.M.G. It celebrates Etienne Bouhier's second marriage, to Madeleine Giroud. Next door in the same street stands the Maison Millière, which the route notes date to 1483. It is a medieval merchant's house with a shop on the ground floor and the craftsman's home above. Together the two buildings show how much the look of Dijon changed between the late Middle Ages and the 1600s.

What to look for

• The E.B.M.G monogram, a personal signature of Etienne Bouhier and his second wife Madeleine Giroud.
• The contrast between the calm, classical lines of the facade and the more decorative Renaissance detail.
• The Maison Millière nearby, where the ground-floor shop and the living space above tell you how a medieval craftsman lived and worked.
• The Dijon owl on the wall of Notre-Dame close by, worn smooth by hands. Tradition says to stroke it with your left hand, your right hand over your heart, and make a wish.

Tips for your visit

• Ten to fifteen minutes is enough for the street itself, but allow more if you also visit Notre-Dame and the owl.
• The mansion is best admired from the street. Check current opening hours and access if you hope to see more than the facade.
• Morning light is gentler for photographing the carved details, and the narrow street is calmer before the midday crowds.
• Rue de la Chouette sits in the historic centre, so you can easily combine it with other old-town sights on foot.

See it on a quest

You can reach this street as one stop on Historical Dijon: A Delivery Through Time, a self-guided walk through the old town. The app leads you here on foot, tells you about the place as you arrive and sets a puzzle based on what is in front of you. There is no guide and no group to join, you start whenever you like, and one ticket covers the whole group.