Last Updated on fifteenth May 2023 by Sophie Nadeau
Thanks to a juxtaposition of pastel hued homes and an iconic Gothic church topped with an onion dome set in opposition to the backdrop of a sheer rock face topped with a citadel, Dinant is usually mentioned to be probably the most picturesque city in Belgium. Easy to go to as a day journey from Luxembourg, Brussels or Namur, right here’s your information to the greatest issues to do in Dinant, in addition to what to know earlier than you go.
Dinant has been on my Europe bucket checklist for the longest time, and for good purpose. The charming city is house to numerous wonderful views, some fairly fascinating historical past, and is a good escape from the hustle and bustle of huge metropolis life.
What is Dinant identified for?
Dinant is positioned a brief trip away from Namur, the capital of Wallonia, which is the French talking portion of Belgium. Belgium is split into two distinctive components; Flanders which speaks Flemish (a dialect of Dutch) and Wallonia which speaks French.
The city of Dinant itself is positioned not removed from the border with Luxembourg and is most well-known for being the birthplace of the saxophone. After all, it was right here in Dinant the place Adolphe Sax developed the instrument within the Nineteenth-century and at present there are reminders of this all around the city.
As effectively as saxophone statues, there are saxophone impressed beers, candies, and even a museum devoted to the musical instrument.
Dinant can also be well-known due to how picturesque it’s! Each 12 months, hundreds of holiday makers descend in town as a way to snap images of the bulb-shaped dome of the church and be taught concerning the complicated historical past of the citadel which is perched precariously on the rocky outcrop overshadowing the city under it.
Things to do in Dinant
Charles de Gaulle statue
Just down the street from the Dinant vacationer workplace and simply earlier than the saxophone bridge, you’ll discover a life sized statue of Charles de Gaulle. This has really been erected near the place the place de Gaulle was wounded in World War One.
Dinant Citadel
One of the primary points of interest in Dinant is difficult to overlook due to the truth that it’s perched excessive above the remainder of the city. Dinant Citadel is definitely accessible from the town centre due to a cable automobile which takes guests from the centre of the city (proper subsequent to the Collegiate church) all the way in which to the highest of the mountain.
I’m a bit afraid of heights however discovered that the journey was over earlier than we even knew we had departed because it actually takes lower than a minute. There are some things to do on the Citadel itself.
As effectively as admiring the view (be sure you deliver a digital camera as it’s actually picturesque), you may see varied exhibitions detailing the historical past of Dinant throughout WWI, expertise what it’s wish to be in a bombed out WWI bunker, and varied different displays concerning the historical past of the city and its environment.
There are 408 steps to succeed in the citadel in the event you don’t determine to take the cable automobile. Rather confusingly, it prices precisely the identical value whether or not you decide to take the cable automobile or stroll.
Therefore, we opted to get the cable automobile up and climb the steps again down because it was actually much less work that way- plus the views had been fairly unimaginable!
Collegiate church of Dinant
The foremost church of Dinant is an imposing masterpiece topped with an onion formed dome. Free to go to, the church dates again to the Thirteenth-century and is devoted to Our Lady.
The church was constructed on the location of a former Tenth-century place of worship which sadly collapsed in 1228, leaving nothing however the north door.
Wander inside at present and also you’ll discover a entire treasure trove of stained glass home windows, magnificent altar items, and ornate stone carvings. Of specific be aware concerning the church is the pear-shaped bell tower, which is greatest seen from the citadel above.
Saxophone Museum
There’s a small museum within the city which presents details about the historical past of the saxophone. It’s a small museum comprising of just some rooms and so that you gained’t want an excessive amount of time to go to! Directly outdoors of the museum, there’s a bench the place you may take a photograph along with a life-sized statue of Adolphe Sax.
Saxophone sculptures
Thanks to its standing because the birthplace of the saxophone, there’s no scarcity of saxophone sculptures throughout the city. One of the important thing spots to get pleasure from gigantic saxophone sculptures is on the Charles de Gaulle bridge (it’s on the primary approach to the city centre from the practice station and so just about unattainable to overlook).
Another spot you may head to is a bigger than life sized duplicate of a saxophone at Rue Saint-Jacques 13, 5500 Dinant, Belgium. This sculpture is supposed to honour the lifetime of Adolphe Sax and is positioned simply a few minutes stroll from the museum.
Stroll across the city
Truth be instructed, as with many medieval cities in Europe, one of many best joys of a go to to Dinant is solely strolling across the city and permitting Dinant to disclose itself to you.
It’s just about unattainable to get misplaced as there’s solely a few streets on the town. Just be sure you put on comfy sneakers as cobblestones are ample and, if you wish to stroll down from the citadel, you’ll be grateful to be in sneakers which have grip!
Discover Maison Leffe
Set in opposition to the backdrop of a former monastery, Maison Leffe is positioned round a 15 minute stroll from the centre of Dinant. As there’s an optionally available beer tasting concerned, I like to recommend doing this cease of the day final!
There are just a few completely different components to the museum, in addition to just a few ticket varieties. As effectively as the easy ticket, which is simply to go to the museum and style one of many Leffe beers, there’s a barely dearer ticket which provides you a Leffe memento glass and an additional beer on the finish of your go to.
Go on a ship trip alongside the river Meuse
If you’re on the lookout for some of the enjoyable issues to do in Dinant, that is it. For a few euros additional on prime of your citadel ticket, you may decide to go on a ship cruise. Boat cruises glide alongside the Meuse and final for round 45 minutes, permitting you to find Dinant and the broader space from a brand new perspective.
Getting to Dinant
The best approach to get to Dinant is by practice. Unfortunately, there are not any trains instantly from Brussels. As such, you’ll need to take a practice to Namur (the capital of Wallonia and place to base your self if you wish to uncover the area by automobile) after which an additional practice to Dinant.
The practice takes round half an hour between Namur and Dinant and trains run each half an hour or so between the 2 cities all through the day. As you may see it was a bit below building throughout our go to however was straightforward to navigate nonetheless.
Alternatively, you may lease a automobile to discover Belgium and nearly each smaller city and metropolis (excluding Bruges, Brussels, and Antwerp) have loads of parking. Check automobile rental comparability costs right here.
How lengthy do you want in Dinant?
Thanks to its compact dimension and the truth that you may simply get across the city on foot (so be sure you put on comfy strolling sneakers), it’s fairly attainable to get round Dinant in the middle of three or 4 hours. I personally spent a protracted afternoon within the city and located that to be adequate.
Together with a pal, I arrived in Dinant simply earlier than lunch. We then explored the church earlier than ascending to the citadel on the cable automobile. Then we had a fast lunch in a neighborhood café earlier than seeing the saxophone museum and strolling alongside the banks of the river Meuse.
We completed up our day in Dinant by strolling to Maison Leffe, which is round a ten minute stroll uphill from the centre of city. Ending our time in Dinant by studying concerning the native beer and sampling some for ourselves whereas overlooking the town laid out under was the right ending to an incredible time out.
If you’re on the lookout for extra Belgium inspiration, be sure you take a look at our suggested Belgium itinerary, the place we advocate spending a while in Dinant. Otherwise take a look at the greatest hidden gems of Belgium and our greatest Belgium journey suggestions.
Dinant info
The first place you’ll need to head to upon arrival is the vacationer workplace. There’s a Dinant vacationer info workplace on the alternative aspect of the Meuse to the church the place you may decide up free maps and leaflets concerning the historical past of the city.
This can also be an incredible spot to buy native souvenirs. Outside the vacationer info workplace there’s a bigger than life Dinant signal that you could snap images of your self with the signal or just simply the attractive backdrop of the city itself.
Where to remain in Dinant
If you may have somewhat extra time to spare and want to keep in a single day in Dinant in order to move out to one of many bars with out the crowds of the day or just see the town with out the day trippers, then there are just a few lodging choices to go well with a big selection of wants and budgets. Here are a few of the greatest locations to remain in Dinant:
La Merveilleuse by Infiniti Resorts: Set in opposition to the backdrop of a Seventeenth-century former convent, this lodge overlooks the river Meuse and boasts facilities corresponding to  an indoor pool with water jets, in addition to a sauna and a steam room. Check costs and availability right here.
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