Porte Guillaume

The basics

Porte Guillaume is located in the center of Dijon and many tours—including self-guided scavenger hunt tours and guided walking tours—include a brief stop here. You’re likely to pass by the arch if sightseeing in the city—pause to admire its details, including bas-reliefs that tell the story of Dijon and the influential Condé family, plus a depiction of a genie with a coat of arms. There's also a plaque honoring US President Thomas Jefferson.

Things to know before you go

• Porte Guillaume is a must for art and history fans.
• Place Darcy, where the gate is located, is wheelchair-accessible.
• Note that the gate is at Place Darcy (Darcy Square) and not Jardin Darcy (Darcy Garden) nearby.

How to get there

Porte Guillaume is located on Place Darcy, one of the main squares in Dijon’s historic city center. It's just a few minutes on foot from Darcy tram station and less than a 10-minute walk from Place de la Libération. A public parking lot is situated just west of the square.

When to get there

There’s no ideal time to visit Port Guillaume, so it’s best to visit when convenient. Summer is an especially nice season to be in Dijon when the weather is warm, but it’s also when you’ll encounter most crowds. Some smaller shops also close in August, when many residents go on vacation.

A walk on the Owl Trail

Dijon’s Owl Trail is a set of 22 stops around town—including Porte Guillaume—that collectively tell the story of the city; you’ll recognize them by small metal plaques with depictions of owls. You can see many of the stops on the trail on a guided tour or pick up a brochure at the city’s tourism office on Place de la Libération.