Ancienne abbaye Saint-Bénigne

To make a day of it

Ancienne abbaye Saint-Bénigne stands in Dijon (Côte-d'Or), in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of France. The building is listed as a historic monument (dating recorded in the Mérimée database: 12th century, 13th century, 14th century, 17th century, 18th century, 19th century). Adult admission costs 5 EUR. Its opening hours and prices have not been verified at the source yet.

The former abbey of Saint-Bénigne in Dijon now serves as the city's cathedral, though its origins lie in a pilgrimage site built around a martyr's tomb. The main draw is the crypt, a remnant of a rotunda dating from the early 11th century, while the structure above ground is a Gothic rebuilding carried out between the 13th and 14th centuries. Visitors interested in early medieval architecture will find a rare pre-Romanesque survival, one that was rediscovered by chance in the 19th century and later restored.

Written from Dijon Cathedral

What to know

• The building stands in Dijon's historic center, within easy walking distance of other sights.
• The crypt, the oldest part of the site, is visited separately from the rest of the cathedral.
• The monument is a listed historic monument, with the crypt protected since 1846 and the whole building since 1862.
• No details on opening hours, admission fees, or accessibility are given here.

Practical information

Visit duration

50 min

Wheelchair access

Not verified

Dogs

Not verified

Parking

Not verified

Where this château is

Dijon · Côte-d'Or · Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

Loading the map…

This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

Pl. Saint Bénigne, 21000 Dijon

Directions open from wherever you are, by car or public transport.

Get directionsView on a map

Château phone number

+33 3 80 30 39 33

CallCopy

The safest check before setting off: today’s hours, guided-tour availability, where to park.

4.6 / 5from 2,478 Google reviews

Heritage status

Listed historic monument (classé)

Mérimée record PA00112249

Period of construction

12th century, 13th century, 14th century, 17th century, 18th century, 19th century

Base map © IGN, Géoplateforme

In pictures

Frequently asked

What remains of the original Saint-Bénigne abbey?

Mainly the crypt, a remnant of the rotunda built in the early 11th century under abbot William of Volpiano.

Did the Saint-Bénigne abbey become a cathedral?

Yes, the former abbey church became the cathedral of the diocese of Dijon in 1792.

How old is the current building?

Most of what stands today results from a Gothic rebuilding carried out between the 13th and 14th centuries, while the crypt dates back to the 11th century.

Is the crypt a protected monument?

Yes, it has been listed as a historic monument since 1846, with the cathedral itself listed since 1862.

Sources

Identity, location and official references from Wikidata and the Mérimée register.

• This entry in Markdown
• Wikidata Q1711691
• Mérimée PA00112249
• Official website

Within an hour’s drive

• Manoir de Lezeu (ancien)Fleurey-sur-Ouche · Côte-d'Or
• Château de Dijon (Dijon Castle)Dijon · Côte-d'Or
• Palais des Ducs et des Etats de Bourgogne (ancien)Dijon · Côte-d'Or
• Château de Montmusard (Montmusard Castle)Dijon · Côte-d'Or
• Château ducal de TalantTalant · Côte-d'Or
• Castel de la ColombièreDijon · Côte-d'Or

The most visited in this department — Côte-d'Or

• Clos de VougeotVougeot · Côte-d'Or
• Château de Châteauneuf (Châteauneuf Castle)Châteauneuf · Côte-d'Or
• Palais des Ducs et des Etats de Bourgogne (ancien)Dijon · Côte-d'Or
• Château de Chailly-sur-Armançon (Chailly-sur-Armançon Castle)Chailly-sur-Armançon · Côte-d'Or

From the same period — 12e siècle

• Château de Brancion (Brancion Castle)Martailly-lès-Brancion · Saône-et-Loire
• Château de Fondremand (Fondremand Castle)Fondremand · Haute-Saône
• Château de Vauguillain (Vauguillain Castle)Saint-Julien-du-Sault · Yonne
• Castle in Mont-Saint-JeanMont-Saint-Jean · Côte-d'Or