More than 18 thousand people passed through the Cite Internationale de la Gastronomie et du Vin or International City of Gastronomy and Wine (CIGV), in its first weekend of operation, in the city of Dijon capital of Burgundy, France.
The 1750-square-meter complex was inaugurated last Friday (6th) and arrives as another attraction in the city, seeking to celebrate the French way of life by promoting the country’s gastronomy and wine, fundamental parts of its culture – It is no wonder that French cuisine was considered an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by Unesco in 2010.
The CIGV is located in the heart of Dijon, on the same 6.5-hectare site where the Espírito Santo hospital used to work centuries ago. Now, the Cité will have several attractions, such as temporary and permanent exhibitions, a cooking school, workshops, shops, a bookstore, a Burgundy wine school, a cinema, a 4-star hotel and restaurants – two of them by Eric Pras, a three-star chef. Michelin.
The Cave de la Cité winery, of course, will offer a show of its own: it has 600 square meters and a structure to offer daily tasting of 250 different wines – in total, there are 3,000 labels available from all over the world.
“It’s a global project,” says François Rebsmen, mayor of Dijon in a press release. “Without a doubt the most complex and innovative project I have ever participated in. In addition to its undeniable tourist vocation, we want the Cité to be perfectly integrated into the daily life of the city and its inhabitants. In what could have been a wasteland, Dijon gives a new future to its history, through a project that promotes culture, tourism, gastronomy and viticulture.”
The construction of the City had an investment of 250 million euros, from a private group.
Dijon is considered the metropolis of wine – one of the reasons for moving the headquarters of the International Organization of Vine and Wine from Paris to the city in October 2021.
It is in Dijon, for example, at the gates of the International City of Gastronomy and Wine, that the “Champs-Élysées of Burgundy” begins – the “Route des Grands Crus”, which goes south through the Métropole of Dijon, passing through Chenove and then Marsannay.
Dijon is 130 km from Paris and is undoubtedly a stronghold for foodies, as CNN Travel & Gastronomy already told here. Hard to find someone who has never heard about the tasty – and intense – Dijon mustard.
For the city, in addition to being famous for the wine route, is also full of starred restaurants, small bistros, many boulangeries, charming markets and pâtisseries.
Once there, it is impossible not to visit the store at Moutarderie Edmond Fallot and taste their countless mustard variations, or not eat the pain d’épices a kind of honey bread with spices, widely consumed with jams and foie gras.
Among the most popular restaurants at the moment is CIBO, by young chef Angelo Ferrigno, ex Maison des Cariatides – another starred address in the city.
With a Michelin star, received in early 2021, CIBO presents a modern cuisine and bets on recipes prepared with local fish, lots of vegetables, with Scandinavian inspirations.
Source: CNN Brasil
