Page 118 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Brittany

116  BRIT T AN Y REGION B Y REGION

Exploring Dinan a Franciscan friar. Several
15th-century buildings survive.
The history of Dinan is closely linked to events in Breton Among them are the Gothic
political history. In about 1000, noblemen from a family cloisters, the main courtyard and
called Dinan took possession of the town and, in 1283, it the chapter house, which is used
came under the control of the duchy of Brittany. Dinan as a refectory by the school that
now occupies the monastery.
enjoyed an initial period of prosperity thanks to its maritime
trading links with Flanders and England, and to the trade in R Église St-Malo
linen sheets and cloth. In the 14th century, the Wars of the Grande-Rue. Open daily, 9am–4pm.
Breton Succession, during which Dinan supported the king of Closed to visitors during services.
France, curtailed the town’s development. However, from the The church, with a slate-covered
bell-turret, was begun in the
16th century, Dinan was again prosperous and it enjoyed a 15th century and completed
second golden age in the 17th and 18th centuries. This can 400 years later. The exterior
be seen from the fine timber-framed houses that line the has a remarkable Renaissance
town’s streets. At this time, religious orders also established doorway. Pillaged during the
several large convents and founded new churches in Dinan. Revolution, the interior is
somewhat bare, apart from
more recent addi tions such as
the high altar (1955) in granite
carved by Gallé and a series of
stained-glass windows (1927)
by Merklen, depicting various
quarters of Dinan, such as the
Jerzual and Place des Cordeliers.
R Basilique St-Sauveur
Place St-Sauveur. Open daily,
9am–4pm. Closed to visitors during
services.
Built in a combination of
Romanesque and Gothic styles,
the basilica is unique in Brittany.
The old town of Dinan, on the banks of the Rance It was founded by a knight
who had safely re turned from
P Old Town and Harbour The Hôtel de Keratry, a a crusade against the Saracens.
In the harbour, the commercial 16th-century mansion with Begun in the 12th century, it
activity that once brought Dinan granite columns, is housed at was not com pleted until the
such riches has been replaced No 6 Rue de l’Horloge. 16th century.
by a flotilla of pleasure boats. The The façade has a remarkable
leafy banks of the Rance offer P Town Walls Romanesque doorway carved
the opportunity of scenic walks. These were built in the
Rue du Quai leads to Rue du 13th century and strengthened
Petit-Fort. At No. 24 is the in the 15th century by François
Maison du Gouverneur, a fine I, Duke of Brittany. They were
15th-century residence. Before renovated in the 17th century
the viaduct was built in 1852, by Garangeau (see p86) on the
travellers would enter Dinan via orders of Vauban. The walls
Porte du Jerzual, a 14th-century are set with 10 towers, the
gate with Gothic arcades. They most impressive of which is
would then follow Rue du the Tour Beaumanoir.
Jerzual, which is lined with Two walks along the walls,
timber-framed houses dating the Promenade de la Duchesse
from the 15th and 16th centuries. Anne and the Promenade des
Once filled with traders, the Grands Fossés, offer views of
street has been taken over by the town and of the Rance.
cabinet-makers and gilders.
Rue de l’Apport has several P Franciscan Monastery
well-restored houses. This street Place des Cordeliers. Open Jul–Aug:
leads to Place des Merciers, Mon–Fri.
which also contains attractive This former monastery was
houses with wooden porches established in the 13th century Rue du Petit-Fort, lined with fine
and overhanging upper storeys. by a Crusader who became 15th-century houses
For hotels and restaurants see pp225–6 and pp235–7

116-117_EW_Brittany.indd 116 11/3/16 12:42 PM