Burgundy

Burgundy ( BUR-gən-dee; French: Bourgogne [buʁɡɔɲ] ; Burgundian: Bregogne) is a historical region in France, broadly corresponding to the territory of the former administrative region of the same name, which existed from 1982 to 2015 before it was merged on 1 January 2016 into Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. Its capital is Dijon.

Named after the Burgundians, Burgundy was historically associated with several political entities, most notably the Duchy of Burgundy, which emerged in the early Middle Ages and later became one of the most important principalities of the Kingdom of France. In the 14th and 15th centuries the duchy formed the core of the Valois-Burgundian State, a major power in late medieval western Europe.

Burgundy is known for its historical monuments, monastic heritage, and wine, especially Burgundy wine. Major religious centres included Cluny, Cîteaux, and Vézelay, while Dijon developed into an important centre of politics, culture, art, and learning.

Etymology

Burgundy is named for the Burgundians, an East Germanic people who moved westwards beyond the Rhine during the late Roman period. The name Burgundy has historically denoted numerous political entities. It first emerged in the 9th century as one of the successors of the ancient Kingdom of the Burgundians, which after its conquest in 532 had formed a constituent part of the Frankish Empire.

Since the inception of the French departmental system in 1790, Burgundy has referred to the geographic area comprising the four departments of Côte-d'Or, Saône-et-Loire, Yonne, and Nièvre.