Côte-d'Or

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Côte-d'Or is a department in eastern France, in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region. Its capital is Dijon, and its subprefectures are Beaune and Montbard. The department covers about 8,763 square kilometers and has around 540,100 people (2023). The residents are called Costaloriens.

Created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790, Côte-d'Or came from part of the old Burgundy province. Its name is linked to the autumn gold color of the hills in the wine country.

Geography and climate: Côte-d'Or borders Yonne, Nièvre, Saône-et-Loire, Jura, Aube, Haute-Saône, and Haute-Marne. The Langres plateau runs through the northeast, forming the Côte d'Or escarpment, which slopes toward the Burgundy wine area. The Saône River flows through the department’s southeast. The climate is continental, with more rain on the western side of the central range.

Economy and culture: The region is famous for wine, especially Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from its world-renowned vineyards. Other crops include cereals and potatoes, and sheep and cattle are raised. Dijon mustard is well known. Industry exists, including coal, steel, machinery, and ceramics, with major sites in Dijon, Selongey, Montbard, and Salives (CEA Valduc). The pharmaceutical sector has grown, and the service sector is significant in Dijon due to its administrative role.

Transport: Dole–Jura Airport is nearby but offers limited flights. For more destinations, people use Lyon–Saint Exupéry, Geneva, or Basel airports.

Tourist sights: Notable places include the Gothic abbey church of Saint-Seine-l'Abbaye, the 11th-century Romanesque church at Saulieu, the 12th-century Château de Bussy Rabutin at Bussy-le-Grand, and the Abbey of Cîteaux near Nuits-Saint-Georges.