Burgundy is a historic region in east-central France. It has a population of about 1,700,000 and covers 12,194 square miles (31,582 square kilometers). Dijon is its largest city.
Grape growing is a leading occupation. For centuries, Burgundy wines have been world famous. The region also produces excellent beef, chickens, butter, cheese, fish, and snails. Many manufacturing plants operate in the region.
Burgundy has been a kingdom, a duchy, a county, and a province of France. The name Burgundy originated in the 400’s, when a Germanic tribe, the Burgundians (also known as the Burgundii), gained control of the region. They established a kingdom that covered most of present-day southeastern France. The Peace of Verdun in 843 divided the Burgundian territories. The eastern half became known as the County of Burgundy, then as Franche-Comte, or Free County. The western half became the Duchy of Burgundy and a part of France. During the reign of Louis XIV, in the 1600’s, the county and the duchy united to form the province of Burgundy. Burgundy, known as Bourgogne in French, was a province until 1789, the first year of the French Revolution.
Burgundy later became an official region (main administrative unit) of France. It was divided into the departments (smaller administrative districts) of Côte-d’Or, Nièvre, Saône-et-Loire, and Yonne. In 2016, Burgundy joined with Franche-Comté to form the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region.
See also Wine (Where wine comes from) .
