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Dinant |
is a historic city situated in a beautiful area between stone cliffs and the river Meuse. This is a very important point on the tourist map of Wallonia. Above the city buildings, on the banks of the Meuse, there is a magnificent church with an onion-shaped dome. Another equally popular monument is the citadel standing on top of the rock. Lovers of rock climbing come here for the magnificent cliff. In the summer, especially on weekends, cruise ships, kayaks and pedal boats sail the river.
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Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary
In the place where the present temple stands, a Romanesque church was built in 1000-1200. When a rock fragment destroyed the tower in 1227, the church was partially rebuilt in the Gothic style. The reconstruction lasted until the 14th century. This new construction is still the dominant style in the chancel and in the south part of the transept.
In the year 1466, Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, and his son Charles the Brave punished the inhabitants of Dinant by setting fire to the city. The reason for this revenge was the uprising that the inhabitants started. About 800 of them were thrown into the river Meuse and part of the Church of Our Lady was destroyed. After a few years, the reconstruction of the temple began in a slightly changed style. The baptismal font in the baptistry became a symbol of a new beginning, a rebirth.
In the year 1466, Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, and his son Charles the Brave punished the inhabitants of Dinant by setting fire to the city. The reason for this revenge was the uprising that the inhabitants started. About 800 of them were thrown into the river Meuse and part of the Church of Our Lady was destroyed. After a few years, the reconstruction of the temple began in a slightly changed style. The baptismal font in the baptistry became a symbol of a new beginning, a rebirth.
Originally, the church should have had two majestic towers. Ultimately, however, this plan was not implemented, and the temple was crowned with one 68-meter-high onion-shaped tower, located above the main entrance. Initially, this strange structure was to crown the house of city councilors, but it turned out to be too heavy, so it was placed on top of the collegiate church.
Inside the temple there are interesting dinanderie (decorative brass objects, made in the vicinity of Dinant). In the late Middle Ages, Dinant became a center for the manufacture of copper objects.
The altar is part of an important renovation of the collegiate church from the second half of the 19th century, the aim of which was to give it its original, Gothic character. The whole is inspired by altars carved in Brabant in the 15th and 16th centuries. The treasure of the collegiate church is also a wonderful reliquary containing the remains of the patron saint of the city, Saint Perpetus. Until the 1960s, the reliquary was carried through the streets of Dinant in a procession on 15 August. The collegiate church also has one of Europe's largest neo-Gothic stained glass windows depicting the history of salvation. Gustave Ladon, an artist from Ghent, created this work in the year 1903, in the style of thirteenth-century Gothic stained glass. Every Sunday, from June to August, at 16.30 an organ concert is held here.
Inside the temple there are interesting dinanderie (decorative brass objects, made in the vicinity of Dinant). In the late Middle Ages, Dinant became a center for the manufacture of copper objects.
The altar is part of an important renovation of the collegiate church from the second half of the 19th century, the aim of which was to give it its original, Gothic character. The whole is inspired by altars carved in Brabant in the 15th and 16th centuries. The treasure of the collegiate church is also a wonderful reliquary containing the remains of the patron saint of the city, Saint Perpetus. Until the 1960s, the reliquary was carried through the streets of Dinant in a procession on 15 August. The collegiate church also has one of Europe's largest neo-Gothic stained glass windows depicting the history of salvation. Gustave Ladon, an artist from Ghent, created this work in the year 1903, in the style of thirteenth-century Gothic stained glass. Every Sunday, from June to August, at 16.30 an organ concert is held here.
Citadel
Another very important monument is the huge citadel, located above the church and dominating the entire city. It was built in the 11th century to control the Meuse valley. In 1530, it was rebuilt and enlarged by the Bishop of Liege, who was the superior of these areas. In the year 1703 it was destroyed by French soldiers. Then, in 1820, the Dutch army rebuilt the citadel in the then style. During World War I battles took place both inside and outside the fortress.
Today, the Citadel houses a museum of weapons and history. Visitors can learn about the history of Dinant over the centuries: from the destruction of the city by the army of Charles the Brave in 1466, through the construction of city fortifications planned by Vauban, an excellent engineer and architect of Louis XIV, to more modern times, i.e. in 1914, when there was a skirmish between French and German troops and a massacre of 674 civilians, residents of Dinant, in August 1914. During one of the skirmishes with German soldiers, a young French lieutenant Charles de Gaulle was wounded. After the war, a new bridge in Dinant was named after him.
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Citadel opening hours: In the season: April-September: 10.00-18.00 every day (cable car open). Off season: October-November 11: 10.00-17.30 daily (cable car open). 11 November-March: 10.00-16.30 Closed on Fridays (cable car open on weekends and school holidays) January: 10.00-16.30 on Saturdays, Sundays and school holidays (cable car open) |
We can get to the top where the citadel is located by climbing the 408 stairs (dated 1577), or ride the cable car, built in 1956. Both riding the cable car and climbing the stairs will give us the opportunity to admire the beautiful panorama of Dinant. The citadel can also be reached by car. There is ample parking for approximately 150 vehicles. In the fortress, apart from learning about history, we can also spend a nice time in the restaurant, there is also a playground for children.
MUSEUM OF ADOLF SAX
Dinant, the city where Adolf Sax was born and lived for many years, of course has a place dedicated to his memory. It is located in the building where the most outstanding inhabitant of the city, the creator of the saxophone, was born in 6 November 1814. It is not a museum, but rather its substitute. His technical achievements and amazing inventions were presented in two small rooms. After the tour, you can catch your breath sitting next to the statue of Adolf Sax on a bench in front of the building. About 20 meters away is a statue of a saxophone.
Antoine Joseph Sax (1814-1894) was a Belgian musical instrument builder, best known as the inventor of the saxophone. Adolf (this name he used) Sax was born in Dinant, Belgium. He started making his own instruments from an early age. Adolf's first important success was improving the construction of the bass clarinet, which until then had been a very out of tune and uneven sound instrument.
In 1841 he moved permanently to Paris. 12 June 1842 published an article in Paris's Journal des Debats in which its author, composer Hector Berlioz described in superlatives a new instrument created by Sax. The date of publication of the article is today considered the official date of the creation of the saxophone. Adolf Sax constructed alto, tenor and soprano. The scale of the first saxophone was seven sounds larger than the later models that Sax rebuilt due to the inferior sound capabilities of the highest sounds of the prototype. In 1846 year the first saxophone was patented. Adolf Sax died in Paris in 1894. He was buried at Cimetière de Montmartre.
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Address:
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Opening hours:
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Ticket price:
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37 rue sax, 5500 dinant
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monday-sunday 9.00-19.00
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Free entrance
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Leffe Beer Museum
On the opposite side of the river is Maison Leffe. A museum dedicated to the history of one of Belgium's most recognizable Trappist beers. The creation of this beer dates back to 1240. During a visit to the museum, you can learn about the process of brewing Leffe beer, hear about the life of Trappist monks, and at the end of the tour there is a tasting of the local product.
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Adres:
Maison Leffe23, Charreau des Capucins 5500 Dinant |
Opening hours:
Monday-Sunday: 11.00-19.00 |
Ticket price:
12 euros http://www.leffe.com/en |
Traditional cakes from Dinant
The amazing hardness of Couque biscuits is the result of the high temperature (approx. 300 degrees Celsius) at which they are baked. You have to break off small pieces and then suck them like hard candy. Dinant people give them to young children to help them strengthen their gums. Couque is made with 2/3 wheat flour and 1/3 with honey. The baker must be careful at all times to prevent the dough from burning. Couque is flat, golden in color, often shaped like an animal or depicting a drawing.
In the past, Couques were pressed in copper molds for which Dinant was famous. Modern bakers use wooden molds made of pear or walnut wood. The appearance of the cookies is very important, which is why the baking molds in which they are pressed are like works of art, made with great precision. As the legend says centuries ago, during the siege of the city by Charles the Brave, Duke of Burgundy, Couque saved many inhabitants from starvation. During this siege, the inhabitants ran out of supplies, all that was left were wheat flour and honey, the ingredients of Couque.
In the past, Couques were pressed in copper molds for which Dinant was famous. Modern bakers use wooden molds made of pear or walnut wood. The appearance of the cookies is very important, which is why the baking molds in which they are pressed are like works of art, made with great precision. As the legend says centuries ago, during the siege of the city by Charles the Brave, Duke of Burgundy, Couque saved many inhabitants from starvation. During this siege, the inhabitants ran out of supplies, all that was left were wheat flour and honey, the ingredients of Couque.
Rocher Bayard
At the end of street Léopold, which is the exit street from the city, there is a rock called Rocher Bayard. This stone obelisk is 35 meters high. It bears the name of the legendary horse of Haemon's four sons, who, according to legend, fled on horse Bayard from Charlemagne (the French name for Charlemagne) and jumped over the river in one great leap. However, the hooves of the jumping horse chipped the stone obelisk from the rock. In fact, the passage was carved in the rock in 1698 year.
The 1934, the King of Belgium Albert I died while climbing in the vicinity of Dinant.
Active recreation
Dinant gives you not only the opportunity to visit historical places or admire the magnificent panorama of the city. There are also many restaurants and pubs where you can try Belgian and French cuisine, and drink Leffe beer, which has been brewed here for centuries, as well as many other types of Belgian beer.
Fans of active recreation will also find something for themselves in Dinant. You can go kayaking on the river Lesse. There are two distances to choose from: 12 and 20 kilometers. The trip duration is 2,5 and 5 hours, respectively. You can also explore the area by rail bike. There are three routes to choose from: 6, 8 and 12 km. The journey takes approximately 1,5 hours.
Fans of active recreation will also find something for themselves in Dinant. You can go kayaking on the river Lesse. There are two distances to choose from: 12 and 20 kilometers. The trip duration is 2,5 and 5 hours, respectively. You can also explore the area by rail bike. There are three routes to choose from: 6, 8 and 12 km. The journey takes approximately 1,5 hours.