Saturday, 29 September 2018

Sunday 16th September 2018 – Dinan, Brittany, France





We chose the slow route to Dinan, keeping to the coast road until Avranches. This involved passing through the village of Genets where we found a magnificent water mill now converted to a restaurant and Chambres D’hotes. The mill had one very large waterwheel and two smaller ones – an arrangement that I have never seen before. I will be showing the photographs to my brother who restored a watermill in Weymouth. After by-passing Avranches we followed the N176 before taking more minor roads from Pontorson. We were tempted to visit The Menhir de Champ Dolent but read in our old Rough Guide that there wasn’t much to see so we decide to give it a miss. There will be plenty more prehistoric sites to visit later.
We arrived at the aire in Dinan in time for lunch and were very impressed. The site is in a valley with the Rance river running alongside it, a huge viaduct dominating it (with the Port de Dinan beyond) and the town walls of Dinan high up above. Although parking overnight was free, we were expecting to pay to park during the day but we discovered that there was no charge on Sundays.
We walked up the steep, zig-zag path to the gate in the walls by St. Sauveur’s church. We found the tourist information office and obtained a good town map that also included a town walk. Following that route we admired the many old buildings, mostly half-timbered especially in the famous Rue du Jerzual down to the port. Here we found a bar for a drink before selecting a restaurant with a choice of fixed menus and had our best meal in France so far this holiday.
Photos: The mill at Genets; The Aire at Dinan; Detail of carving on the entrance to St. Sauveur’s church; House for sale in Dinan – the restoration costs might be substantial!

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