- DepartmentCôtes-d'Armor
- From Saint-Malo~30 min
- Best forMedieval streets, river walks
- Stay1–2 nights
Dinan grew rich in the Middle Ages on trade along the River Rance, and its walls, gates and crooked timber-framed houses survived the centuries largely intact. Today it is one of the most atmospheric towns in Brittany, with a lively centre of cafés, galleries and crêperies.
The old town
Start at the Place des Merciers and the Rue de l'Apport, lined with houses on wooden pillars. Climb the 15th-century Tour de l'Horloge for views over the slate roofs, then visit the Basilica of Saint-Sauveur, which holds the heart of the warrior Bertrand du Guesclin. The English Garden behind the church looks down on the river and the viaduct.
Rue du Jerzual and the port
The steep, cobbled Rue du Jerzual and its continuation, the Rue du Petit Fort, drop from the old town to the port through a medieval gate. It's lined with craft workshops and is lovely early in the morning. Down by the water, restaurants spread along the quays below the granite viaduct of 1852, and boats run downriver towards Dinard and Saint-Malo, tides permitting.
Ramparts and castle
About three kilometres of walls still circle the town. Several sections are open to walk, and the castle keep of Duchess Anne houses part of the town museum.
Practical tips
- Dinan is about 30 minutes from Saint-Malo by car; regional trains connect via Dol-de-Bretagne.
- Leave the car outside the walls; the centre is compact and hilly.
- A towpath runs along the Rance to the lock at Léhon, a lovely flat walk or bike ride.
Stay in Dinan
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Top sights near Dinan
Saint-Malo Ramparts & Fort National
Walk the walls of the corsair city, then cross the sand to Vauban's fort at low tide.
Read guide →
Cap Fréhel & Fort La Latte
Purple heather on 70-metre cliffs, a lighthouse and a fairy-tale castle on the sea.
Read guide →Header photo: Photo: Zairon, CC BY-SA 4.0
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