Brittany: Obligatory Dinan

Another day trip we made from St-Malo was to Dinan, much touted by Rick Steves. Unlike St-Malo, Dinan was spared by WWII. Its historic core is well preserved, though we found their rampart walk closed for repairs. Chateau du Dinan is a very curious looking structure. For some reason, I was fascinated by the street to the Port on the Rance River. Also, we walked on the scenic greenway along the Rance to the next village of Lehon.

View of Port Dinan from the bus window as we enter the city on the Viaduct.


Chateau du Dinan (left), St. Louis Gate (center) and City Walls (right).


The 15th-century Belfry.


A look at the typical covered porches common in the medieval town center.


Shops on the road down to the port.


Some sections of the City Wall were closed for renovation (below)...




...but Sainte-Catherine Tower was open with great views to the port below, and the Rance River, a tributary of the Seine.




Basilique Saint-Sauveur, just behind Catherine's Tower, in which Saint-Sauveur loses his head.




We tried one of the local specialties, a pastry called Kouign-Amann. Verdict: extremely tasty!




We walked upstream along the Rance River to Lehon. But first we have lunch at this picnic table under the trees.


It's a very pleasant walk along the greenway to Lehon with its flower beds, lock, stone bridge, and abbey with a beautiful cloister.










The walk back on the opposite side of the Rance is equally nice.


We finished our visit at the Port with its Cerlce Nautique clubhouse, viaducto, and slew of sailboats.