Along the Meuse River lies a beautiful town called Dinant! Dinant has so much to offer including the citadel castle on top of the cliffs, the church with its unique bell tower, and a quaint town nestled right on the river under the cliffs. Learn what to expect and where to go from my trip report so you can make the best of your next visit to this cool town!
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Dinant Belgium
Dinant Belgium is a unique place with a storied history to explore on your next visit. It was the crossroads of both world wars. There is a fantastic church, citadel, and beer history all located right on the edge of a riverbank and cliffs. It is home to the invention of the saxophone which they really play up and you can find the instrument in so many different places. It is also where Charles de Gaulle was injured during World War I.
The church is also a main focal point in the downtown area of the city, which has an interesting history of destruction and rebuilding. Overlooking the church is the citadel which has been there for hundreds of years in some form or fashion for 1000 years. Whether you visit for the history, the waffles, or the beer, Dinant has a little something for everyone!
Dinant Airbnb
I stayed at an Airbnb near Dinant. It was only about a 15-minute walk to get into the city center from the house. The Airbnb was a really cool spot and had a fun mix of old and new in the renovated farmhouse. It had room enough for 6 people. The house had a cool vibe with art everywhere and lots of space in the kitchen, dining, and great room. One thing I really liked was the paintings and art that were all over the house. It felt very comfortable and fun to enjoy evenings cooking together with friends!
Things to Do in Dinant
Dinant is a midsized city but has an oversized history. The home of the saxophone and the sax museum, the unique Notre Dame de Dinant, the Dinant Citadel, and of course the beer history of Leffe. These things are more than enough to fill up any weekday.
Notre Dame de Dinant
The famous church is located right in the center of Dinant and is a prominent feature across the skyline. The building has had an interesting past and has been rebuilt over the years. It is also located just a few feet from the cliffs that rise above the town. The interior is large and the stained glass window located only on one side is the main building is the focal point for all the light entering the building. I’m a big fan of old churches all around Europe and this one was fun to check out!
Dinant Citadel
The Dinant Citadel was an interesting military fort to visit and you can access it from both the bottom near the church and from above by a parking area. I picked to walk up the stairs rather than use the cable car. The stairs are steep and I will say it was a hard workout but I enjoyed seeing the city from the side of the cliffs. I enjoy a challenge!
The site of the citadel has been occupied by some kind of military fortress for 800 years. The bulk of the museum’s exhibits are from the 1800s to the present. There are even modern airplane displays outside of the front gate! They have some mannequin displays of how life in the fort would have been in the 1800s. There’s a World War I trench immersive exhibit complete with a sideways room to disorient you as you walk through. Finally, there’s a wonderful sensory exhibit for their World War I history exhibit. It was a little emotional at times!
Leffe Beer
I wasn’t able to visit the Leffe Museum but it was on the list. The museum is not in the abbey but across the river from the main part of Dinant at the “Maison Leffe”. The Leffe Abbey does have some tours available but the beer isn’t made in Dinant anymore. It is still a functioning church so make sure to check with the official website on what things are happening!
Around the Area
When you’re finally done with Dinant and all the cool things it offers, you can go on a wonderful castle tour in the area! There seems to be a castle and a chateau every few miles in this beautiful area. You can hike many of these castles or use some public transit. There are several options to get to many of these areas. Here’s where I went!
Walzin Castle
Wazin Castle is a gorgeous private castle that is the centerpiece of a gorgeous river and hiking area! This place would be a gorgeous summer spot to swim and hike. I visited in the winter and it was still busy with people going all over the countryside. Learn more here.
Vêves Castle
Veves Castle is a quintessential castle located only a few kilometers from Walzin. The castle really pushes the idea this castle is “sleeping beauty’s” castle and it does have a fun whimsical vibe to it. There are even options for the kids’ tour to dress up like a princess or a knight! I took the self-guided tour and everything went fine. Check out my write-up on the castle to see what options you have for visiting!
Lavaux-Sainte-Anne Castle
Lavaux-Sainte-Anne Castle is a cool moated castle, convention center, and nature area. The castle is a more modern castle and has been rebuilt in the early 1900s to what it looks like it is now. The castle has a ton of indoor exhibits showing off the hunting, agriculture history, and stuffed animal exhibits all throughout the building. I again took the self-guided tour and spent several hours in the area checking out the castle and surrounding area. Click here to get more details on my visit.
Adolphe Sax and he is from Dinant Belgium!
You can park at the top of the cliff, you can walk up the stairs or can take the cable car. The stairs and cable car are a single price for either option.
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