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 towards the backdrop of a sheer rock face topped with a citadel, Dinant is commonly mentioned to be essentially 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 listing for the longest time, and for good purpose. The charming city is residence to numerous superb views, some fairly fascinating historical past, and is a superb escape from the hustle and bustle of huge metropolis life.
What is Dinant recognized for?
Dinant is situated a brief trip away from Namur, the capital of Wallonia, which is the French talking portion of Belgium. Belgium is split into two distinctive elements; Flanders which speaks Flemish (a dialect of Dutch) and Wallonia which speaks French.
The city of Dinant itself is situated 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 the moment there are reminders of this everywhere in the city.
As effectively as saxophone statues, there are saxophone impressed beers, sweets, and even a museum devoted to the musical instrument.
Dinant can be well-known because of how picturesque it’s! Each 12 months, hundreds of tourists descend in town to be able to snap photographs of the bulb-shaped dome of the church and be taught in regards to the complicated historical past of the citadel which is perched precariously on the rocky outcrop overshadowing the city beneath it.
Things to do in Dinant
Charles de Gaulle statue
Just down the highway 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 truly been erected near the place the place de Gaulle was wounded in World War One.
Dinant Citadel
One of the principle sights in Dinant is tough to overlook because of the truth that it’s perched excessive above the remainder of the city. Dinant Citadel is definitely accessible from the town centre because of a cable automotive 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 (make sure you convey a digital camera as it’s actually picturesque), you’ll be able to see numerous exhibitions detailing the historical past of Dinant throughout WWI, expertise what it’s prefer to be in a bombed out WWI bunker, and numerous different reveals in regards to the historical past of the city and its environment.
There are 408 steps to achieve the citadel in the event you don’t determine to take the cable automotive. Rather confusingly, it prices precisely the identical value whether or not you choose to take the cable automotive or stroll.
Therefore, we opted to get the cable automotive up and climb the steps again down because it was actually much less work that way- plus the views have been fairly unimaginable!
Collegiate church of Dinant
The fundamental 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 positioning of a former Tenth-century place of worship which sadly collapsed in 1228, leaving nothing however the north door.
Wander inside at the moment and also you’ll discover a complete treasure trove of stained glass home windows, magnificent altar items, and ornate stone carvings. Of specific be aware in regards to 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 only a few rooms and so that you received’t want an excessive amount of time to go to! Directly exterior of the museum, there’s a bench the place you’ll be able to 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 take pleasure in gigantic saxophone sculptures is on the Charles de Gaulle bridge (it’s on the principle solution to the city centre from the practice station and so just about unattainable to overlook).
Another spot you’ll be able to head to is a bigger than life sized reproduction of a saxophone at Rue Saint-Jacques 13, 5500 Dinant, Belgium. This sculpture is supposed to honour the lifetime of Adolphe Sax and is situated 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 make sure you put on comfy footwear as cobblestones are considerable and, if you wish to stroll down from the citadel, you’ll be grateful to be in footwear which have an excellent grip!
Discover Maison Leffe
Set towards the backdrop of a former monastery, Maison Leffe is situated round a 15 minute stroll from the centre of Dinant. As there’s an non-compulsory beer tasting concerned, I like to recommend doing this cease of the day final!
There are just a few totally different elements 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 costlier 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 further on high of your citadel ticket, you’ll be able to 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 solution to get to Dinant is by practice. Unfortunately, there are not any trains straight from Brussels. As such, you’ll must take a practice to Namur (the capital of Wallonia and an excellent place to base your self if you wish to uncover the area by automotive) 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’ll be able to see it was a bit underneath building throughout our go to however was simple to navigate nonetheless.
Alternatively, you’ll be able to hire a automotive to discover Belgium and virtually each smaller city and metropolis (apart from Bruges, Brussels, and Antwerp) have loads of parking. Check automotive rental comparability costs right here.
How lengthy do you want in Dinant?
Thanks to its compact measurement and the truth that you’ll be able to simply get across the city on foot (so make sure you put on comfy strolling footwear), it’s fairly doable 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 ample.
Together with a good friend, I arrived in Dinant simply earlier than lunch. We then explored the church earlier than ascending to the citadel on the cable automotive. Then we had a fast lunch in an area 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 in regards to the native beer and sampling some for ourselves whereas overlooking the town laid out beneath was the right ending to an amazing day trip.
If you’re on the lookout for extra Belgium inspiration, make sure you try our urged Belgium itinerary, the place we advocate spending a while in Dinant. Otherwise try the greatest hidden gems of Belgium and our greatest Belgium journey suggestions.
Dinant data
The first place you’ll wish to head to upon arrival is the vacationer workplace. There’s a Dinant vacationer data workplace on the alternative facet of the Meuse to the church the place you’ll be able to choose up free maps and leaflets in regards to the historical past of the city.
This can be an amazing spot to buy native souvenirs. Outside the vacationer data workplace there’s a bigger than life Dinant signal which you can snap photographs of your self with the signal or just simply the gorgeous backdrop of the city itself.
Where to remain in Dinant
If you will have a bit 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 swimsuit a big selection of wants and budgets. Here are a number of the greatest locations to remain in Dinant:
La Merveilleuse by Infiniti Resorts: Set towards the backdrop of a Seventeenth-century former convent, this resort overlooks the river Meuse and boasts facilities equivalent 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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