Dinant Tourist Attractions
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Dinant is the second largest town in the Belgian region of Condroz and one of the most important tourist centers in the Ardennes. Thanks to its delightful situation in the Upper Meuse valley below precipitous limestone rocks, crowned by a mighty citadel, Dinant has become a very lively tourist resort, especially at weekends when the Meuse is dotted with pleasure boats and canoeists.
Collégiale Notre-Dame
In the Place Reine Astrid at the foot of the citadel hill the collegiate church of Notre-Dame stands at the end of the Meuse bridge. It is a beautiful early Gothic building from the 13th C. standing on the site of a Romanesque basilica which was destroyed by falling rocks in 1227.Following the devastation of 1466 the arches had to be reconstructed. The central tower with a pear-shaped dome (1566) provides a harmonious contrast to the dominating citadel high above the town. The only remains of the Romanesque church is the sandstone doorway on the north side. Inside the church examples of dinanderies can be seen in the form of the font, the Easter candles and the lectern. In the left transept is the tomb of Gérard de Blanmostier dated 1356.The light shines through a beautiful Gothic arched stained window above the south doorway.
Museum of Photography
The Musée de la Photographie is situated directly next to the church at the valley station of the cable railroad up to the citadel. It contains over 300 old cameras and a reconstructed dark room from 1920.
Rue Grande
The busy main street in the elongated town, the Rue Grande, runs parallel to the right bank of the Meuse from the Place Reine Astrid to the bridge heading south. Through traffic is concentrated on the left bank.
Town Hall
South of the Place Reine Astrid is the Hôtel de Ville (town hall) with a monument to the citizens who lost their lives in 1914.
Grotte et Tour de Mont-Fat
A narrow path leads up to the cable way to Mont-Fat. This ascends to the Mont-Fat viewing tower and children's playground. Prehistoric discoveries were made in the Grotte de Mont-Fat; it was a Roman temple to the goddess Diana.
Rocher Bayard
The Rue Grande continues southwards as the Rue Léopold and, at the end of the town, passes between the rocks of the high plateau and the famous Rocher Bayard, a rocky needle some 40m/131ft high, rising steeply up from the river. Bayard was the name of the horse of the legendary four sons of Haimon. Fleeing from Charlemagne they all crossed the river in one mighty jump, thereby splitting the rocky needle with its hooves. In fact a thoroughfare was blown through the rocks in 1698.
Abbaye de Leffe
Further north in the suburb of Leffe at the entrance to the rocky cleft Fonds de Leffe is a former Premonstratensian abbey. It was founded in 1152 and suffered during the besieging of Dinant. Only the guest house, prior's house and refectory, all from the 17th and 18th C. remain.
Grotte La Merveilleuse
The suburb of Saint-Médard which includes the railroad station and numerous hotels extends along the left bank of the Meuse. West of the bridge, 500m from the railroad station on the Route de Philippeville, is the entrance to the Grotte de Raimpaine ("La Merveilleuse"). The 500m-long cave has beautiful stalactite formations.
Birthplace of Adolphe Sax
The northern continuation of the Rue Grande from the Place Reine Astrid is the Rue Adolphe Sax, named after the inventor of the saxophone who was born here. A window in the house (No. 31) commemorates the instrument maker.
Citadel
The citadel of Dinant towers high above the town. There are four ways up to it: the cabin cable railroad (télépherique) behind the collegiate church, a difficult route consisting of 400 steps next to the cable way, the chair-lift to Mont-Fat and a short walk or via the Rue Adolphe Sax and then to the right by the Rue de Saint Jacques. The present-day citadel was built by the Dutch government in 1821 on the site of the episcopal fortresses which had often been destroyed. A tour through the citadel leads along battlements heavily contested by the Germans and French in 1914, through a bakery and a weapons museum. There is a reconstructed dugout, riddled with bullets, from the First World War.
Citadel View
From the ramparts of the citadel projecting over the town there is a magnificent view over the Meuse.At the top are a cemetery for French soldiers killed in action and a monument to the German soldiers.
Été Mosan Festival
This annual eight-week festival runs from mid-July to mid-September, and includes orchestral, choral and chamber concerts and piano recitals. Highlights include a sound and light show that is accompanied by the music of Handel. The various events take place in a number of settings, including the Chateau de Fontaine, as well as local abbeys, churches and even private homes.
Dinanderie Mecap
The famous medieval art of dinanderies has been revived in recent years and can be observed in the workshop of Dinanderie Mecap.
Monsieur de Marco Dinanderies
The famous medieval art of dinanderies has been revived in recent years and can be observed in the workshop of Monsieur de Marco.
Sorinnes-Dinant - Pont d'Amour Ostrich Farm
A breeding center for ostriches where visitors can also see emu, rhea and cassowaries.
Map of Dinant Attractions
Map - Dinant
