Dinant

Dinant is a small but spectacularly picturesque city in the province of Namur, Wallonia, Belgium. It stretches along the river Meuse against a steep rock face on the eastern side, with a thinner strip on the western side against a forest. Its old town is one of the most impressive sights in Wallonia, dominated by the magnificent Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame with its bulbous onion dome and the dramatic Citadel perched on a cliff 100 metres above the river.

Dinant is the birthplace of Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone, and the town celebrates this heritage with saxophone motifs throughout. The city has a turbulent history — it was repeatedly pillaged and burned, and was all but razed by invading Germans in 1914 after the Battle of Dinant. The historic centre was meticulously rebuilt after the war. The climate is temperate maritime, with best visiting times from April to October. Dinant works well as a day trip from Brussels, Namur, or Liège.

By Plane

Brussels Airport (BRU) — take a train to Brussels-Nord, then the hourly direct train to Dinant (1 hr 30 min total). From Charleroi Airport (CRL), take the bus to Charleroi Sud, then a train to Namur, then change for Dinant (about 2 hours total). From Liège Airport (LGG), take bus 57 to Liège-Guillemins, then a train to Namur and onward to Dinant.

By Train

Dinant Railway Station is in the centre, about 5 minutes' walk from the river. Trains from Brussels take around 1 hr 30 min (departing hourly). From Namur, trains run every 30 minutes (30 min). Dinant is on a side railway line forking from the main line in Namur.

By Car / Road

The A4 motorway (E114) from Brussels to Luxembourg City passes immediately east of Dinant — the drive takes a little over an hour from Brussels. Namur is also on the same motorway (30 min from Dinant). From other Wallonia cities, take the A15 (E42) and turn into the A4 at Daussoulx.

No need to take public transport — Dinant is a very small town and the main tourist sites are within walking distance. The Citadel can be reached by cable car or by climbing 408 steps cut into the hillside.

• Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame (Collégiale Notre Dame de Dinant) — The iconic church with the onion dome dominating the riverbank. Rebuilt after a 1227 rockslide, the interior is kept in simple Gothic style. Destroyed in WWI and rebuilt verbatim. Free entry.

• Citadel of Dinant (Place Reine Astrid 3, ☏ +32 82 22 36 70) — Fortress on a cliff 100 m above the Meuse. Reached by cable car or 408 steps. Offers spectacular views. Houses an Arms Museum. Daily 10:00–18:00. €8.50 adults, €6 children 4–12.

• Grotte la Merveilleuse (Route de Philippeville 142, ☏ +32 82 22 22 10) — Beautiful cave discovered in 1904 with small waterfalls inside. 50-minute guided tour. €9 adults, €6 children.

• Rocher Bayard (Bayard Rock) — 40-metre-tall rock needle at the Meuse riverbank. According to legend, separated from the main rock mass by the magical horse Bayard.

• Le triomphe de la lumière — Statue wielding a sword and a torch, said to have inspired Bartholdi's Statue of Liberty.

• Abbaye Notre-Dame de Leffe (Leffe Abbey) (Place de l'Abbaye 1, ☏ +32 82 22 23 77) — Abbey inhabited since 1152, with a splendid organ.

• Maison Leffe (23 Charreau des Capucins, ☏ +32 82 22 91 91) — Museum about Leffe beer. Tu–Su 11:00–18:00. €7, includes a tasting.

• French Military Cemetery (Chemin de la Citadelle) — 1,104 French soldiers buried here from the 1914 Battle of Dinant.

• Citadel cable car — Scenic ride up the cliff.

• Saxophone heritage trail — Follow the saxophone motifs around town.

• Boat trips on the Meuse — Scenic river cruises (seasonal).

• Les Bains de Dinant (Charreau des Capucins 28, ☏ +32 82 67 74 11) — Wellness centre with warm baths and saunas. Sa Su 16:00–23:00. €29–90.

• Kayaking on the Meuse — Rent a kayak and paddle the river.

• Bowling (Chemin de la Citadelle 15, ☏ +32 82 22 28 34) — M–F 11:00–01:00, Sa 14:00–02:00.

• Hoa Sen (49 Rue Grande, ☏ +32 82 64 68 81) — Thai/Vietnamese restaurant, local favourite. Opens 18:30. Book ahead for weekends.
• La Table d'Antonio (Rue Alexandre Daoust 49, ☏ +32 82 22 22 49) — Cosy Italian riverside restaurant with outdoor terrace. Lunch from €17, 3-course dinner €34.
• Foodbox (Rue de la Station 3, ☏ +32 82 61 45 69) — Good food for a very good price. Burgers from €3.
• Sawadee Thailand (Av. Winston Churchill 26, ☏ +32 476 48 27 30) — Excellent Thai, approx €16 for a curry.
• There are several nice restaurants along the river with lovely views.

• Enjoy Leffe beer at Maison Leffe tasting room or any of the cafés along the river.
• The cafés on the Grand Place and along the Meuse offer great views.
• Belgian Trappist beers are widely available.

• Budget: Hostel La Merveilleuse — basic rooms from €35. Ibis Dinant — budget hotel near the station.
• Mid-range: Hotel Le Festival (Rue du Vélodrome 67, ☏ +32 82 22 15 17) — 3-star near the centre. Doubles from €85.
• Upscale: Hotel La Merveilleuse (Route de Philippeville 148, ☏ +32 82 22 22 40) — 4-star with wellness facilities. Doubles from €130.
• There are also plentiful (but pricey) apartments and houses to rent in and around the city.

Couque de Dinant, a type of very hard biscuit, is the local speciality. Made from honey and wheat flour, it's typically eaten with coffee or hot chocolate. Buy them at local bakeries or the tourist office. The weekly market on the riverfront offers local produce.

• Namur (30 min by train) — Capital of Wallonia with the massive Citadel of Namur.
• Rochefort (40 min by car) — Town with the Rochefort Abbey and cave systems.
• Bouillon (1 hr 15 min by car) — Spectacular medieval castle in the Semois valley.
• Liège (1 hr by train) — Wallonia's largest city with the Curtius Museum.
• Brussels (1 hr 30 min by train) — Belgium's capital with the Grand Place and Atomium.