Dinan

13th C?

Anoter easy day trip by train from Rennes. We took the 7:35 to arrive at market for breakfast. We had been here in 2011 with my mom, using Dinan as base from which to visit Mont St. Michel in Normandy. Both of us remembered liking it and  the market, and not having enough time here. We weren’t disappointed with our return.

Dinan is possibly one of the more photo worthy medieval towns. I finally just stopped taking photos because everywhere I looked was something interesting or charming or quirky.

Quirky – the knight on the right with lance pointing at the dragon on the left
Courtyard of the Hotel Bonmanoir – I was disappointed not to be able to enter to see the lobby.

Dinan has ramparts, but not much of them are walkable. The town administrators sold off parts of them to private owners. But there is one part on the backside of the St. Saveur Basilica, beyond its garden.

View of the Riviere Rance and town from the ramparts
The Rance and port area – one direction…
…the other direction

As we were at market early, we didn’t buy much food to haul around, but enjoyed appreciating the freshness and the variety. I have vowed to visit our own growers’ market more regularly next season.

The strap to the leather bag that I use when traveling broke while we were still on the Chemin. I managed to make it work with a small carabiner. Luch was with me though as I found a beautiful replacement at this market.

By the name I thought it might be made in Japan, but it is a French luxury leather company. I left the old one hanging on a bench. It served me well.

I also found a sweater, which I promptly donned due to an unexpected chill in the air, and a blouse. I thought I might make it through this trip with just the clothes I packed. They were too nice and too good a deal to pass up!

We’ve been easily logging 12 and more miles a day as we cruise around towns. That necessitates a break.

Best Chardonnay ever

The St. Saveur Basilica had some unusual items.

The Chile Pepper Rose Window
Temperance

Saw this in a window – more Chemins in France from various areas. Something to consider for future.

It’s Sunday night and the kids are  not out crowding the pubs. It’s so intriguing that weeknights are party nights and weekends are not. I was halfway hoping they’d be back so I could video the chant. I’m glad they aren’t though as the quiet is welcome.

The weather has turned. It’s autumn and the days are chilly. We even put the heat on in the apartment tonight. And now I bid you Adieu.

6 thoughts on “Dinan

  1. Linnea Hendrickson's avatar Linnea Hendrickson October 15, 2023 / 1:41 pm

    Yay, for Dinan! I’m not much of a shopper, but I bought a straw grocery bag and a table cloth in the market there, and down the road somewhere at a pottery a pig-shaped pitcher, all of which I still have and use.

    Like

  2. James Moore's avatar James Moore October 15, 2023 / 1:58 pm

    More great pics and commentary 🙂

    Like

  3. James Moore's avatar James Moore October 15, 2023 / 1:59 pm

    Really nice photos. Wonder what it would be like to live in a house that’s hundreds of years old.

    Like

    • pgsteele4's avatar pgsteele4 October 15, 2023 / 2:02 pm

      Better now than hundreds of years ago.

      Like

  4. Jim's avatar Jim October 15, 2023 / 2:00 pm

    Really nice photos and descriptions yet again. Wonder what it would be like to live in a house that’s several centuries old.

    Like

  5. James Moore's avatar James Moore October 15, 2023 / 2:02 pm

    Sorry for the duplicate messages – it kept saying I had said that before or to add my name or to retype my email.

    Like

Leave a reply to James Moore Cancel reply