What to see in Dinard
Villas on the Malouine headland. Photo chosen by monsieurdeFrance: depositphotos.
The beach "l'écluse" : the great beach
In the heart of the city, you can't miss it. You can rest there sheltered from the wind and it's a pleasure to see the changing sky and the sea. The area along the sand is called "la digue" where you can find culinary stalls to taste a waffle, small restaurants to drink a coffee facing the sea or to have a small dish of mussels. Beware, the gulls are cheeky, always keep an eye on them if you want to keep your dish.
The famous white and blue tents of Dinard. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: Jérôme Prod'homme (c)
What you see on the great beach :
When you are facing the sea, you have on your right the Pointe du Moulinet, with beautiful villas, including the Villa Saint Germain that you see at the top of the point. On your left, you have the Malouine point. In front of you, the "bé", the small bé is the one on which there is a fort. It is renovated by enthusiasts. We owe it to the genius of the great Vauban when he fortified Saint Malo. The biggest is the "grand bé", it is on this island that Châteaubriand is buried, standing, facing the sea. A little further you see Saint Malo "intra muros", in other words the old city of Saint Malo and the beach of Bonsecours.
The view from the beach of the lock in Dinard: in front of you from left to right: the small bé, the big bé, saint malo and the tip of the reel with the villa Saint Germain. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com : Jérôme Prod'homme (c).
Behind you on the right there is the casino and the swimming pool, on the left, there are two buildings that are worth seeing: the Royal Hotel, now privately owned, but which was one of the most chic hotels in Dinard during the Belle Epoque. It was here that tea was taken in a huge veranda that no longer exists.
The Royal Hotel, once the most chic hotel in the resort, now privately owned. In front, the changing rooms built in the 30s. For some years now, a cabin has been dedicated each year to the person who presides over the Dinard British Film Festival / Photo chosen by Monsieurdefrance.com: Irina Crick/Shutterstock.com
A little further, pink, there is "la Reine Hortense", a pink house, which is a hotel (you sleep well and the view at breakfast is just top). The large living room has a very nice fresco. The house is inspired by the villa of Queen Hortense (mother of Napoleon III) in Italy.
The promenade du Moulinet / Promenade des alliés.
If you turn right from the main beach, you will discover the promenade that runs along the Pointe du Moulinet and you will pass under some of the villas of Dinard. From this point you will have a beautiful view towards the open sea, towards the two Bé, and, further on your left, on the island of Cézembre, which belongs to Saint Malo. This island was ravaged in 1944 during the Liberation of Saint Malo (the first napalm bombing in history took place there). It is possible to go there by boat (shuttles leave from Dinard) and there is a small restaurant there. Still on the Pointe du Moulinet, you will have a very nice view of "les roches brunes", a red and white villa, Louis XIII style, perched on the Pointe de la Malouine (the one facing you). It was built in 1893 by the architect Alexandre Angier for the couturier Poussineau. It belonged for a long time to the Braud family whose descendant, Paul Braud, donated the place to the city of Dinard at his death in 2007. It has become an exhibition space. It is one of the few villas in Dinard that has remained as it is, without having been converted into apartments. A plan, which appears at the entrance, shows the places as they were at the time, for example the servants' quarters or the swimming pool, an incredible novelty at the time.
The villa "les roches brunes" seen from the Pointe du Moulinet. Photo chosen by Monsieurdefrance.com: Jérôme Prod'homme
The villa of the "les roches brunes" (brown rocks) seen of near. Photo chosen by Monsieurdefrance.com: Shutterstock. com
On the "promenade des alliés" you have the most beautiful view of Saint Malo, the ramparts, the bell tower of the Saint Vincent Cathedral (rebuilt in concrete after the destruction of a large part of the city in 1944). On the right side of "intramuros" (that's how the old city of Saint Malo is called), you can see very well the harbor, and a little more on the right, the City of Aleth and its trees. It was an important defense place for the Nazis during the war and it is behind this place that was Aleth, the original city of Saint Malo, whose inhabitants went to settle on the rock on which Saint Malo is built from the 12th century.
The view on Saint Malo from the Pointe du Moulinet. In the center: the bell tower of the Saint Vincent Cathedral. A place which speaks to the Quebecers since it is there that Jacques Cartier rested. And a plaque reminds us that he had the expedition he wanted to lead to China blessed there, but which led him to discover Canada.
The villa "la garde" in winter that you will discover while going up from the Pointe du Moulinet. Photo chosen by Monsieurdefrance.com: Jérôme Prod'homme.
While continuing you will reach the magnificent "Villa la Garde" built in 1897 for Jacques Hennessy. Of "return of gothic" style, inspired by the English castles of the 16th century, it is enormous and articulated around a central hall which was used as ballroom. There is a replica in Newport. Further on, to finish the walk, you will discover "le bec de la valée", one of the places where the first tourists disembarked at the beginning of the Dinard seaside resort. You will meet some fishermen. Passing under the suspension bridge, we find the "plage de l'Ecluse". A word about this bridge to say that it was built after the rock of the Pointe du Moulinet was pierced to allow a passage. A dynamite digging that impressed a lot at the time, which earned the place an inauguration with great pomp.
The Bec de la Vallée with the famous bridge. To the left of the bridge you will see the huge "castle of the two banks" of Count Rochaïd Dadah, one of those who made the glory of the city by building and selling houses. We owe him in large part the arrival of the train at the end of the nineteenth century and also houses with a social dimension built to house workers and prevent them from living too far from their place of work. A problem that affects, moreover, the seasonal workers of today who have a lot of difficulty in finding accommodation in Dinard because of the prices and the few offers, most of the offers being reserved for tourist rentals. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com : Shutterstock.com
The moonlight walk
The moonlight walk at low tide and the landing stage of the boats that allow to go to Saint Malo by bus (to do!). It's nice and it's practical because you don't have to look for a place to park in Saint Malo) or to go to Cézembre, Chausey... Photo chosen by Monsieurdefrance.Com : Shutterstock.com
Continuing along the Printania, you start the "moonlight walk". It continues along the sea and leads you to the Prieuré beach, not far from this priory which is the oldest place in Dinard since it was founded in the Middle Ages by two knights to welcome the pilgrims on their way to the Mont Saint Michel. Their graves are classified as Historic Monuments. The walk is flowered and lit in the evening, it offers a nice stroll which allows, among other things, to reach the marina of Dinard (whose Yacht Club is a very nice building of Breton style with Art Deco touches). You can climb the gardens to get back to the city center or the Grand Hôtel Barrière. Note the half-moon-shaped projection of what was for a long time the Dinard aquarium and which is now a luxury hotel: the Castel Brac. A "castel brac" which takes its name from an astonishing villa imagined by an English owner who mixed all the architectural styles and who, asking his opinion to an English friend on the beauty of the place was answered "what a bric-a-brac!
The walk in the moonlight. On the right, the Prieuvé beach, in the center, the marina and on the right, the church tower of Dinard: the "bric à brac" villa and its half-moon overhang above the moonlight promenade / Photo chosen by Monsieurdefrance.com: Shutterstock.com
Go along the sea to Saint Enogat
Aerial view on the Malouine point and the villas of the "Poussineau housing estate" built between 1890 and 1930. Photo chosen by Monsieurdefrance.com : Shutterstock.com
When you leave the "plage de l'Ecluse" (the big beach) you take a left and a walk, which is about 2 kms long, will lead you to Saint Enogat. This is the original village of which Dinard was only a place called, a place of passage of the river Rance coming from the West to join Saint Malo. Saint Enogat was a village which lived partly from fishing, from the sale of goemon (excellent to fertilize the earth), from breeding and which provided sailors to the Malouin crews. A republican place in the heart of the Chouanne countryside, the village saw the arrival of the first English tourists at the beginning of the 19th century and the birth of the seaside resort. It should be noted that the relations between Saint Enogat and the seaside resort were not always smooth, especially when it was decided that the parish church would be in Dinard. The inhabitants of Saint Enogat fought for a long time to rebuild their church which had been destroyed in favor of the one in Dinard. And when they got it, they continued to fight to keep their own parish priest.
The "suspended" foundations of one of the villas on the Pointe de la Malouine. Photo chosen by Monsieurdefrance.com: Shutterstock. com
While taking this walk, you will discover some of the most beautiful villas of Dinard. Some of them are architectural feats since they are built on foundations that were made flush with the rock. You will pass under the largest, the Grey-stone villa, an Art Deco splendor that belongs to the billionaire François Pinault. A small beach (washed away with the rising tide) offers some beautiful buildings, including an amazing enclosed gazebo. You can go back to the city at some point, and walk the streets of the Pointe de la Malouine and the Boulevard de la Mer to discover other villas. Or you can continue towards Saint Enogat, go up the village, and continue towards the Thalasso of Dinard. The bar is accessible even if you are not a curist. It offers a sublime view towards the sea.
View on Saint Malo from the beach of Saint Enogat while going back to Dinard via the promenade of the Pointe de la Malouine. Photo chosen by Monsieurdefrance.com : Shutterstock. com
To see also in Dinard
The center of Dinard is also very pleasant. There are many restaurants. Around the Casino there are beautiful decoration stores, antique shops and ... Chocolatiers. You can also sit around the Yves Verney esplanade and the Art Deco building "le gallic" in one of the bars which are appreciated by the holidaymakers especially in the evening to party. The covered market is exceptional. You can find everything you need to enjoy your food, especially with seafood. To discover also the customs path which goes along "la vicomté" towards the Barrage de la Rance. You can also visit Saint Lunaire and its art deco villas, or Saint Briac a little further. Dinard also has many monuments, even if some are closed to the public. For example the castle and the park in front of the beach of the Priory. The villa Eugénie, at the entrance of Dinard, has been closed to the public for many years. It was built to welcome the Empress Eugenie (who preferred Biarritz) on an official visit. A visit that never took place. A persistent legend says that the cancellation was due to the fact that the little dog of the empress was sick...
The church of Dinard, whose bell tower was destroyed by a shell in 1944 during the Liberation. From the square, you have a breathtaking view of the Rance estuary.
Some good culinary addresses
Dinard is also a gourmet resort. You can discover many restaurants. We particularly recommend "l'abri des flots" located in the heart of the city (place de la République). The menu is varied. Special mention for the luiguinis with truffles, delicious. Also note the "Castor Bellux", pizzeria and Italian cuisine restaurant located at 5 rue Winston Churchill (not far from the Casino). Excellent value for money, you won't be hungry anymore when you leave. Nothing like a birthday party here.
Not far from Dinard
Of course Saint Malo
Saint Malo is the subject of a dedicated article on our site. The city is just opposite Dinard. The two cities have been rivals for a long time. You can discover the fortified city "intra muros" and walk along the ramparts. The beach "le Sillon" (the furrow). Numerous villas also, notably in the Courtoisville district. It is also a great port of trade and fishing from which left the terre-neuvats, these men who left on the fishing banks off Newfoundland to fish the famous cod so popular on the French tables. You can easily go to Saint Malo by bus, from the hold of the valley or from the pier of the Clair de Lune promenade (it depends on the tides). The schedules are rather frequent, it takes 10 minutes, you cross the estuary of the Rance and you arrive at the foot of the ramparts of Saint Malo. The information is here (in english) and also there (there are two companies).
View on the island of Cézembre from the ramparts of Saint Malo at sunset. Photo chosen by Monsieurdefrance.com : Jérôme Prod'homme.
The Montmarin at la Richardais
10 minutes from Dinard, on the same bank of the Rance, you can discover the Montmarin, a magnificent "malouinière" (with a beautiful collection of plants). It was built by one of the shipowners of Saint Malo. The malouinières are pleasure houses that the rich shipowners or privateers of Saint Malo (often both at the same time) had built in the countryside to get away from the ramparts and the noise of the fortified city and to take the fresh air. The Montmarin is a very nice example, as well as the "chipaudière" or the "ville-bague" in Saint Coulomb near Saint Malo.
Dinan
Rue du Jerzual à Dinan / Photo choisie par monsieurdefrance.Com / Jérôme Prod'homme
20 minutes away from Dinard, there is Dinan and its magnificent historical center straight out of the Middle Ages. You can also go down (or up) the amazing and very steep rue du Jerzual to reach the port of Dinan, on the banks of the river Rance (the same river that ends at the Rance dam between Dinard and Saint Malo). There are some nice restaurants and the town is worth a detour. Here is the website of the turists office.
Cancale
25 minutes from Dinard, after Saint Malo, if you like seafood, this is the perfect place to have a seafood platter and taste the famous oysters of Cancale at the Port de la Houle.
The Cap Fréhel and Fort la Latte
The Cap Fréhel seen from Saint Malo / Photo chosen by Monsieurdefrance.com : Jérôme Prod'homme. Photo without tricks and it is one of the strengths of the Emerald Coast: all the lights, all the colors are possible naturally.
At 25 minutes from Dinard, on the same bank of the Rance, you can discover two amazing places. The Fréhel Cape, which advances in the English Channel, majestic and high perched above the water around its lighthouse. The seagull island is also amazing, you can see a myriad of sea birds. A little before, facing the sea and erected on a rock, the castle of "Fort la Latte" is a kind of stone ship above the waves. It is articulated around its round keep. It was the setting for the film "Vickings" with Kirck Douglas and "Chouans" by Philippe de Broca with Sophie Marceau. The place is maintained and safeguarded by the same family since the 50s, the Jouon des Longrais family. The place will impress the kids. Don't miss it.
Le fort la Latte / Photo choisie par Monsieurdefrance.com : Jérôme Prod'homme
The Mont-Saint-Michel
It is not very far, on the other side of Saint Malo and Cancale. The Mont Saint Michel is about 35-40 minutes away from Dinard (be careful in summer it is often longer, there are people on the road). The best way is to go by the coast. You will see beautiful landscapes, but it is also done by a beautiful road which passes off Dol de Bretagne (the cathedral is worth the detour). Monsieur de France gives you all the useful information below.
