About this place
Place François Rude is the social hub of Dijon's pedestrian quarter, named after the sculptor François Rude, born in the city in 1784 and famous for the Marseillaise relief on the Arc de Triomphe. Opened around 1905 after older houses were cleared, the square gathers cafes, a Belle Époque carousel and crowds beneath its leaning medieval facades. Its fountain is topped by a bronze figure of a naked grape treader nicknamed the Bareuzai, a word from the local dialect for the Burgundy winegrowers whose legs were stained reddish purple by the grape must. It is the natural crossroads of the old town, where nearly every street seems to meet.
Key facts
- 1784 year — The sculptor François Rude, who the square honours, was born in Dijon
- 1905 year — The square was opened after older houses were cleared, around
- 600 years — Some timber framed houses around the square have stood for over
📍 Place François Rude 10, 21000, Dijon