To visit
You can explore the Emerald Coast of Brittany. Access to the GR34 on foot. The hotel is located at the start of the Voie Verte which links Dinard to St-Samson-sur-Rance (17km) and to join the Voie Verte of the Ille-et-Rance canal, which leads to Rennes. Bicycle room on site.
Dinard
Location
Dinard is a well-known seaside resort, particularly for the British and Americans, and hosts an annual British film festival.The seaside resort of Dinard is located on the Emerald Coast, close to the border with the Côtes-d'Armor and the town of Saint-Malo (where the Rance River divides). It is the Rance tidal power plant, located in the commune of La Richardais, a technological feat of the 1960s and a major tourist attraction, which links Dinard and Saint-Malo.Not far from Dinard are the Channel Islands, which can be reached in one hour by high-speed ship from Saint-Malo or 15 minutes by plane from Dinard Pleurtuit Saint-Malo airport.The four main beaches in the town are Prieuré, Écluse, Saint-Énogat and Port-Blanc. There are other beaches, unsupervised and smaller, accessible by the coastal path that connects the Priory to the Port-Blanc (beaches of Malouine, Port-Riou and Notre-Dame-du-Roc).
Transport from Dinard
In 1901 the Dinard to Saint-Briac tramway line was opened. This was a metre gauge steam tramway line linking the towns of Saint-Briac and Dinard via Saint-Lunaire. It was opened between 1901 and 1902. In 1929, the line closed and was replaced by a bus service.Until 1987, the town was served directly, in season, by a Corail train Paris-Montparnasse-Dinard. This link was abolished and the station, dating from the end of the 19th century, was demolished in the 2000s. However, access to Dinard has recently been facilitated by the arrival of the TGV linking Paris to Saint-Malo station in less than three hours and offering a connection by coach. For motorists, the free expressways make up for the absence of a motorway. A maritime shuttle links Dinard to Saint-Malo.
The town is also served by the Dinard Pleurtuit Saint-Malo airport.
The town is also served by the Dinard Pleurtuit Saint-Malo airport.
Historical monuments
The commune has 5 historic monuments and 146 listed buildings:
The knights Olivier and Geoffroy de Montfort's burial ground dating from the 14th century. They are located in the ruins of the chapel of the former priory which is near the beach of the Priory.The house known as the Black Prince, also built in the 14th century.The Baronnais manor house, in the Breton Renaissance style with its formal gardens, was built in 1647.The fort on Harbour Island, a former redoubt fortified by Simeon Garangeau in 1689.The tennis club, one of the first built in France (in 1879).
The knights Olivier and Geoffroy de Montfort's burial ground dating from the 14th century. They are located in the ruins of the chapel of the former priory which is near the beach of the Priory.The house known as the Black Prince, also built in the 14th century.The Baronnais manor house, in the Breton Renaissance style with its formal gardens, was built in 1647.The fort on Harbour Island, a former redoubt fortified by Simeon Garangeau in 1689.The tennis club, one of the first built in France (in 1879).
Beaches of Dinard
There are four main beaches in the commune, each with a lifeguard post and seasonal facilities:
The beach of Port-Blanc, also located in the commune of Saint-Lunaire.The beach of Saint-Énogat, located near the old district of Saint-Énogat.The beach of l'Écluse, the main beach of the city near the city centre. The casino, the heated Olympic seawater swimming pool and the Palais des Congrès are located along this beach.The Prieuré beach, at the eastern end of the Promenade du Clair de Lune.
The beach of Port-Blanc, also located in the commune of Saint-Lunaire.The beach of Saint-Énogat, located near the old district of Saint-Énogat.The beach of l'Écluse, the main beach of the city near the city centre. The casino, the heated Olympic seawater swimming pool and the Palais des Congrès are located along this beach.The Prieuré beach, at the eastern end of the Promenade du Clair de Lune.
Dinard Events
Plant market.Market: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays on the esplanade of the Hall from 8am to 1pm. Depending on the season, 100 to 300 traders are present. One of the largest in the region. 500 parking spaces. Seasonal market on Wednesday mornings in Saint-Énogat on the Place du Calvaire.Antique fairs: the first Sunday of each month from April to September on the esplanade of the Hall. From 8am to 7pm, 45 second-hand dealers are present, all professionals.Dinard British Film Festival, which takes place every autumn.Festival of young designers.Rendez-vous aux jardins.Festivals of Laughter.Cowes-Dinard Boat Race, organised with the help of the Dinard Yacht Club.
Visits and cultures
Mont-Saint-Michel
Mont-Saint-Michel is located in the department of Manche and the region of Basse-Normandie, which takes its name from a rocky islet dedicated to Saint Michael where the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel now stands.The architecture of Mont-Saint-Michel and its bay make it the most popular tourist site in Normandy and the third most popular in France (after the Île-de-France) with more than 3,000,000 visitors each year. A statue of Saint Michael placed at the top of the abbey church reaches 170 metres above the shore. The abbey and its outbuildings are classified as historic monuments. The town and the bay have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979.The bay of Mont-Saint-Michel is the scene of the highest tides in continental Europe, with up to 15 metres of tidal range, the difference between low and high tides. The sea then reaches the coast "at the speed of a galloping horse", as the saying goes.
Cancale
Cancale is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Brittany in northwestern France. It is known as the birthplace of Saint Jeanne Jugan.
Cancale lies along the coast to the east of Saint-Malo. It is a picturesque fishing village popular with visitors, many of whom are drawn by its reputation as the “oyster capital” of Brittany. Though a small town, it is well served by a large number of restaurants, many specialising in seafood. When not eating one can sit and watch the bustle of this busy little town with many stalls selling crustaceans of all types.
There is a pleasant coastal path which permits a circular walk from the town to the Pointe du Grouin with views across the bay towards Mont Saint-Michel.
Cancale lies along the coast to the east of Saint-Malo. It is a picturesque fishing village popular with visitors, many of whom are drawn by its reputation as the “oyster capital” of Brittany. Though a small town, it is well served by a large number of restaurants, many specialising in seafood. When not eating one can sit and watch the bustle of this busy little town with many stalls selling crustaceans of all types.
There is a pleasant coastal path which permits a circular walk from the town to the Pointe du Grouin with views across the bay towards Mont Saint-Michel.
Dol-de-Bretagne
Dol-de-Bretagne, cited in most historical records under its Breton name of Dol, is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine département in Brittany in northwestern France.
Dol-de-Bretagne is reputed to be the origin of the royal House of Stewart who became the monarchs of Scotland and later England and Ireland; a plaque in Dol commemorates that origin.
Saint-Malo
Saint-Malo is a walled port city in Brittany in northwestern France on the English Channel. It is a sub-prefecture of the Ille-et-Vilaine.
Traditionally with an independent streak, Saint-Malo was in the past notorious for piracy. Today it is a major tourist destination, with many ancient, attractive buildings.
Now inseparably attached to the mainland, Saint-Malo is the most visited place in Brittany. Sites of interest include The walled city, The château of Saint-Malo, The Solidor Tower in Saint-Servan, The tomb of the writer Chateaubriand on the Ile du Grand Bé, The Cathedral of St. Vincent (Saint-Malo Cathedral), The Privateer’s House, The Great Aquarium Saint-Malo, The labyrinthe du Corsaire, The Pointe de la Varde, The City of Alet, Fort National and Fort de la Conchée.
Traditionally with an independent streak, Saint-Malo was in the past notorious for piracy. Today it is a major tourist destination, with many ancient, attractive buildings.
Now inseparably attached to the mainland, Saint-Malo is the most visited place in Brittany. Sites of interest include The walled city, The château of Saint-Malo, The Solidor Tower in Saint-Servan, The tomb of the writer Chateaubriand on the Ile du Grand Bé, The Cathedral of St. Vincent (Saint-Malo Cathedral), The Privateer’s House, The Great Aquarium Saint-Malo, The labyrinthe du Corsaire, The Pointe de la Varde, The City of Alet, Fort National and Fort de la Conchée.
Dinan
Its geographical setting is exceptional. Instead of nestling on the valley floor like Morlaix, most urban development has been on the hillside, overlooking the river Rance.
The medieval town on the hilltop has many fine old buildings, some of which date from the 13th century. The town retains a large section of the city walls, part of which can be walked round.Major historical attractions include the Jacobins Theatre dating from 1224, the flamboyant Gothic St Malo’s Church, the Romanesque St Saviour’s Basilica, Duchess Anne’s Tower and the Château de Dinan.
A major highlight in the calendar is Dinan’s Fête des Remparts. The town is transformed with decoration and many locals dress up in medieval garb for this two-day festival. The festival takes place every other year.
The medieval town on the hilltop has many fine old buildings, some of which date from the 13th century. The town retains a large section of the city walls, part of which can be walked round.Major historical attractions include the Jacobins Theatre dating from 1224, the flamboyant Gothic St Malo’s Church, the Romanesque St Saviour’s Basilica, Duchess Anne’s Tower and the Château de Dinan.
A major highlight in the calendar is Dinan’s Fête des Remparts. The town is transformed with decoration and many locals dress up in medieval garb for this two-day festival. The festival takes place every other year.
Erquy
Erquy has about 3,841 permanent residents. The commune covers 2686 hectares and includes almost 15 km of coastline. Its many hamlets contain interesting examples of our heritage which reveal its history (a chapel, a dolmen, manor houses, a lighthouse…).
Le Cap fréhel
“Cap Fréhel” is a peninsula in Côtes-d’Armor, in northern Brittany, France which extends off the “Côte d’Émeraude” into the “Golfe de Saint-Malo”. No towns or villages are situated on the peninsula however two lighthouses, one from the 17th century and the other one from 1950, are located at the tip of it. The Cap is located 8.5 km from the town centre of Fréhel. The peninsula is surrounded by mainly cliffs which make it difficult to access it via sea. The whole of the undulating terrain is covered in moorland and marshes which make it difficult to construct any structure on the site.
Le Fort-La-Latte
Fort-la-Latte or Castle of La Latte is a castle located about 4 km southeast of “Cap Fréhel” and about 35 km west of Saint-Malo, in the commune of Fréhel, Côtes-d’Armor, Brittany, France. It is a famous tourist attraction on the “Cote d’Émeraude” in the northeast of Brittany. This impressive castle was built on a small piece of land at the “Baie de la Fresnaye” in the 13th century. Various films have been shot at this site, including The Vikings (1958 by Richard Fleischer) with Kirk Douglas and Tony Curtis. It is also featured in the french band Manau videoclip La Tribu de Dana. The castle has been classified as a “monument historique” by the French Ministry of Culture since 1925.
Sports activities
Walking tours
The shores of the Emerald Coast offer walking routes accessible to all, in the middle of original and varied landscapes. For the more experienced, the customs officers' path and its GR34 will take you into a majestic marine setting. The customs path, created at the end of the 18th century to put an end to smuggling, runs along the Breton coast for about 2000kms. From Mont Saint Michel to the southern limit of Brittany, it runs along the Côtes d'Armor and allows you to discover magnificent and sometimes unknown areas such as the Goélo Coast, the Ajoncs Coast and of course the Pink Granite Coast.
Cycling tours
Brittany is also inland... and what better way to explore it than by bike... Set off to discover the picturesque little villages between the rivers and the countryside on numerous signposted routes. Take time to stop for a picnic and enjoy the peace and quiet of the surrounding countryside.
Tennis practice
Dinard has its own Tennis Club which offers clay court lessons all year round with the possibility of training courses and lessons for all levels.
Golf Course
Established in 1887, Dinard is France’s second-oldest club and is steeped in history. Founded by a group of British settlers and designed by the famous Scotsman Tom Dunn, it is clearly modelled on the great courses ‘back home’.Totally authentic and simply oozing class and quality, it’s an absolute joy from the first tee to the final green.