The Philippe le Bon statue, Dijon, Guida per visitatori e cosa fare nei dintorni

The statue of Philippe le Bon stands in Place des Ducs de Bourgogne in Dijon, in front of the old palace of the Dukes of Burgundy. It honours the duke who ruled Burgundy from 1419 to 1467, when its court was among the richest and most brilliant in Europe. It makes a natural first stop for anyone wanting to understand why Dijon was once a capital of power.

The story behind it

Philippe le Bon, known in English as Philip the Good, was one of the wealthiest and most powerful princes of his age. His court set the standard for splendour, and Burgundy under his rule was a major force between France and the Empire. In 1430 he founded the Order of the Golden Fleece, a chivalric brotherhood meant to bind the nobility of his lands closer to him and to let him reward those he trusted.

The order took its name from the Greek myth of the golden fleece, the coat of the winged ram Chrysomallos, which was offered to Zeus. In the legend, whoever won the fleece earned the status of a hero. The palace behind the statue was the main residence of the Dukes of Burgundy, begun in the late 14th century under Philippe le Hardi. Each duke added to it, and Philippe le Bon built the tower that still carries his name. The building was remodelled in the 17th century with plans linked to Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the architect of Versailles. Today it houses Dijon's Town Hall and the Musée des Beaux-Arts.

What to look for

• Look at the figure of the duke himself and think of the Golden Fleece, the order he founded in 1430, which made his court famous across Europe.
• Look up at the Tour Philippe le Bon, the tall tower of the palace that has carried his name for centuries and rises about 46 metres.
• Take in the classical facade of the palace, a reminder of the 17th-century rebuilding that changed the medieval ducal residence.
• Notice the curved shape of the square in front of the palace, which frames the building like a stage set.

Tips for your visit

• Seeing the statue and the square from outside is free, and 15 to 20 minutes is enough for the exterior and a few photos.
• Light in the morning or late afternoon is kind to the palace facade, and the square is calmer outside the middle of the day.
• The Musée des Beaux-Arts is inside the palace, so allow extra time if you want to go in. Check current opening hours.
• The tower can be visited, but ask at the Dijon tourist office for current arrangements. Dijon's old town and Notre-Dame are a short walk away.

See it on a quest

The best way to take in this square is as one stop on a longer walk, and Historical Dijon: A Delivery Through Time does exactly that. You reach the place on foot, the app tells you about it as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. It follows a historical theme through the streets around the palace, with no guide and no group to join. One ticket covers your whole group, and you can start whenever you like.