Destination: Dinan

Bonjour

After exploring much of Normandy, we are setting our sights on travelling a bit further to see neighbouring Brittany. We had heard a bit about Dinan, a town not far from St Malo so we took off in Clio to check it out.

We knew very little about Dinan but to us it looks like it escaped relatively unscathed from WW2. So many of the Normandy towns are a mix of very old and relatively newish buildings. Unfortunately the newer buildings are often quite ugly due to the urgent need and lack of funds after the war.

Dinan is built on the Rance River and has direct water access to the harbour at St Malo. It is really hilly and must have been a nightmare to try and build on those steep slopes hundreds of years ago. They obviously knew what they were doing because many enormous retaining walls still look like they could remain standing for a few more centuries.

Originally Dinan was a walled city, and much of the original wall remains. To further protect the city, the moat was widened and counterscarp (an outer wall) was built around 1470. This was then converted into a promenade around 1750.

The promenade on the left. This is a long way up from the river so filling that moat with water must have been challenging.
Another part of the original wall. This gives a sense of how hilly the town is.
This is the Governor Tower. In the 19th century it was sold to private citizens who built a massive house on top (see below). It was eventually bought back by the municipality and the house was demolished in 1990.
This is looking down on the Port of Dinan.The main part of the old town is on the top of the hill on the left.
Let’s build a house of stones. Big stones. And do some fancy brick work above the second floor. And then put an arched window in the attic. With more fancy brick work above the arch. And big stone chimneys. And don’t forget a really, really steep pitch on that roof. With slate tiles. And no power tools or safety equipment. And make sure it sill looks good in a few hundred years. Easy peasy.
Dinan looks amazing, day or night. There has been a lot of money and effort put into restoring and maintaining its character and it so worth a visit.

We were lucky that we were there on a Sunday outside ‘peak’ season and we can imagine this would be packed with tourists during summer. Regardless, this is a definitely a place that we will be returning to.

Bonsoir and bon weekend

L & M

2 thoughts on “Destination: Dinan”

  1. Looks gorgeous. Travelling the world through you guys lol xxx hope u r both well xx

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