Barbirey-sur-Ouche is located some 25 km south-west of Dijon and 11 km east of Créancey. Access to the commune is by the D33 road from Gissey-sur-Ouche in the north-east which passes through the village and continues south to Saint-Victor-sur-Ouche. The D114 goes west from the village then north-west to Grenant-lès-Sombernon. The commune is heavily forested on the hillsides to the north and south with farmland in the valley.[4][5]
The Ouche river passes through the commune just east of the village flowing from south to north to eventually join the Saône just east of Saint-Jean-de-Losne. The Ruisseau de la Gironde flows from the west down the valley to join the Ouche near the village. The Canal de Bourgogne (Burgundy Canal) also passes through the commune parallel to the Ouche on the eastern side. There are two locks in the commune - the Écluse de Dainevy to the south and another lock further north.[4]
On 17 March 1794 Jean Vivant Micault de Corbeton (10 May 1725 - 17 March 1794), Chairman of the Parliament of Burgundy in Dijon before the French Revolution, Lord of Agey, Meilly-sur-Rouvres, Rouvres-sous-Meilly, Saligny, Liernolles, Maconge, Barbirey-sur-Ouche, Santenay, Pommard, and other places, last Marquis of Joncy, and husband of Marie Françoise Trudaine, was beheaded in the Place du Morimont (now the Place Emile Zola) in Dijon.
Barbirey-sur-Ouche appears as Barbirey fur Ouche on the 1750 Cassini Map[6] and the same on the 1790 version.[7]
Heraldry
Blazon:
Azure, a bend vivré of Or debruised by a label of 5 points of Gules at honour point.