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History of the Franks
St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927
Book 3, 19. Of the Blessed Gregory, and the Site of Dijon
At that time the blessed Gregory was at Langres, a great priest of the Lord, renowned for his signs and miracles. As I have made mention of this bishop, I have deemed that it might be welcome to the reader were I to insert here some account of the site of Dijon, where he most delighted to sojourn. It is a fortified place with very strong walls, built in the middle of a pleasant plain. Its lands are fertile, and so productive that the fields are sown after a single ploughing, whereupon follows a great and rich harvest. On the south is the river Ouche, exceeding rich in fish; on the north another and smaller stream which enters at one gate, passes under a bridge, and issues through another gate, surrounding all the fortifications with its tranquil flow: before the gate it turns mill-wheels with a wondrous speed. Four gates face the four quarters of the world, and thirty-three towers guard the circuit of the walls, which are of squared stones to a height of twenty feet, and above of smaller stones, the total height being thirty feet with a thickness of fifteen. Why the place is not styled a city I cannot say. Round about are excellent springs. On the west side are very fertile hills covered with vines, yielding the inhabitants so noble a Falernian that they scorn the wine of Chalon. The ancients relate that Dijon was built by the Emperor Aurelian.