Dinan
Walled Medieval Town Of Half Timbered Houses Above The Rance, Linked To Its Old River Port By The Steep Rue Du Jerzual · Dinan, Brittany
Dinan is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Brittany, set on a granite spur high above the Rance valley about 30 km south of Saint-Malo. Around 3 km of ramparts, with gates and towers, still enclose much of the old town, whose streets are lined with half-timbered houses, some on wooden pillars that form covered arcades, especially around the Place des Merciers and the Rue de l'Apport. The Tour de l'Horloge, a 15th-century clock tower, can be climbed for a view over the roofs. The castle keep, linked to Duchess Anne, and the Basilique Saint-Sauveur, which holds the heart of the warrior Bertrand du Guesclin, add to the history. From the old town the steep, cobbled Rue du Jerzual and its continuation, the Rue du Petit Fort, drop down past craft workshops to the port, where boats moor on the Rance under a tall stone viaduct and riverside paths run to the village of Léhon and its abbey. Every two years the town holds a large medieval festival, the Fête des Remparts. Dinan is compact and walkable, but steep between the town and the river.
Old town and port, Dinan, Côtes-d'Armor, Dinan, Brittany, France
The old town, the ramparts walk, the Rue du Jerzual and the port are public streets and paths, open at all times and free to wander. The Tour de l'Horloge is usually open from spring to autumn, with longer days in summer and a winter closure or very limited opening, confirm. The castle keep and its museum have been closed for long periods for restoration in recent years, so check before planning around it. The Basilique Saint-Sauveur and other churches are generally open by day except during services. River boat trips on the Rance toward Dinard and Saint-Malo run mainly from spring to early autumn and depend on the tides, so departure times change daily and some trips are one way with a bus or train back, confirm. Shops and workshops on the Rue du Jerzual keep seasonal hours and some close in winter. The Fête des Remparts takes place over a weekend in July in alternate years and brings huge crowds, costumed parades and paid entry for some events, confirm the dates and whether this is a festival year. Parking in the town centre is limited and paid, with larger car parks outside the walls; the Thursday market fills the central squares.