Dijon, France: Could I live here?
Arrival in Dijon
Dijon is the capital of Burgundy and is best known for its picturesque architecture, great wines, and of course mustard. It’s a city rich in culture and history. And, of course, Dijon also has incredible food, just like the rest of France.
As soon as I got off the train, I was stunned by the beauty of the city. Everywhere I looked there were beautiful buildings and streets. This is the one city I arrived in where I was immediately drawn into the place. I have learned not to judge a city by my first impressions the day I arrive. That’s because I’m usually tired, aggravated, and just want to get to my hotel or apartment. This time, even though I was tired, I fell in love with the city.
Beautiful Dijon
Pros of living in Dijon
Dijon has a strong infrastructure and it would be easy to find what I needed to make a wonderful life there. It is vibrant and alive, beautifully laid out and has a university hospital, so has excellent healthcare.
It would be easy to get around via the tram that connects all parts of the city and outlying areas. The bus routes are extensive and biking paths are everywhere. It is only an hour and 30 minutes to Paris via the train.
The center of the city (old town) is large, beautiful and is set up for pedestrians. Restaurants, stores and services line the streets. There is a wonderful market where you can buy fresh, local produce, meat, fish, cheeses and breads.
AND, Dijon is incredibly beautiful and historic.
Cons of living in Dijon
Dijon is a large city. It has about 162,000 people, including students because of the university. Although there appears to be a lot of expats in the city, I am a bit concerned that it would take some time to feel like I was part of the local community.
Getting to the Charles de Gaulle airport is a bit tedious. I do plan to continue my travels, so this has to be a consideration for a place to settle.
Dijon does have four seasons, which I like, It is cold in the winter, which I’m fine with, but it will also be cloudy and overcast several months of the year. And, I’m not so fine with that.
At the end of the day…
Yes, Dijon is a place that I could live and be happy. But, there are things that I need to take into consideration, and I have other places to visit before I make a final decision.
Just for fun….
When trying to catch a train to Dijon, I had to head out of the main train station to take a different train. As I walked out and saw these escalators, my first thought was, “Thank goodness there is an escalator.” As I got closer, I realized that it as not working.
I was about to panic when I saw a sign for the elevator. Thank goodness because that is often not an option in train stations. Not sure why, but it is a “thing.”
