François Rude square

Built in 1905 as a tribute to sculptor François Rude, born just a few blocks away, this square is very recent compared to the other buildings in town. Despite its recent construction, its architecture reflects the styles of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, notably with its magnificent timber-framed house in flamboyant red. The carousel regularly set up on the square honours the famous engineer Gustave Eiffel, who before becoming one of the most popular figures of his time, was born in Dijon! Several of his works are represented on the carousel. And just next door, the statue that adorns the fountain features a man treading grapes. The statue was a gift from Napoleon III to the Dijon museum, and was made in the 1850s. It is because of this statue that the people of Dijon call this place Bareuzai square, referring to the people in charge of treading the grapes who end up with pink legs, giving them “pink bottoms”…