Dinant. Located just 100 kilometres from Brussels, we find this well-kept secret of Belgium, the beautiful and photogenic Dinant.
On our route we would pass through Namur before arriving, a city that we had only seen in passing and promised to return to another time to spend enough time there.
Namur is located at the confluence of the rivers Sambre and Meuse in the Walloon region, standing as an important communications hub.
Many excursions include a visit to Dinant. The highlights here are its citadel, its old town with the Plaza de Armas and the Saint Aubain Cathedral built in the mid-18th century. We stopped to take a look inside before continuing on our way to Dinant.
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Dinant
Situated on the banks of the Meuse River, Dinant is famous for its impressive cliffs and unique architecture. From the first glance, you will fall in love with its beauty. But what is there to see here? Let’s find out!
With a history marked by the First and Second World Wars, the city of the saxophone had much to offer us and allowed us to wander through its streets.
Adolf Sax, the inventor of the saxophone, was born in Dinant, and the city pays homage with saxophones in its streets, which adds to its charm.
Collegiate Church Notre Dame
Our first destination is the majestic Notre-Dame Cathedral. With its impressive Gothic façade and beautiful stained glass windows, it is a perfect place to start our visit. We cannot help but admire the famous bell tower, which towers over the city.
Citadel of Dinant
From the cathedral, we can climb up to the Dinant Fortress, which offers spectacular views of the city and the river. You can get there on foot or take the cable car. We used the cable car as the climb consists of 408 steps. The price of the cable car with the entrance to the citadel is €12. You have a combined ticket for the cable car ride + river cruise for €20. We took that one.
The history of the fortress is interesting, so exploring its facilities is almost a must. It will transport you back in history that dates back to 1466 and takes you through the history of Dinant including the First World War.
From the top the views of this city are magnificent, and the image of the bridge with the saxophones is the perfect photograph. But we would go down to enjoy it.
Charles de Gaulle Bridge
Another iconic spot is the Charles de Gaulle Bridge. This modern bridge connects the two banks of the river and is a great place to take photos. The view of the river and the colorful houses around it is simply stunning.
On the other side of the river we do not find the typical letters of the city, the same ones located on the bank of the river and with the cathedral in the background is the perfect portrait.
Maison Adolphe Sax
Dinant is also the birthplace of Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone. You can visit his birthplace, which is now a museum dedicated to his life and work. If you are a music lover, this may be an interesting option. Admission is free.
We are going now to do this walk that I recommend
Cruise on the Meuse River
One of the best ways to enjoy Dinant is from the water. I recommend taking a cruise along the Meuse River. It’s a relaxing experience that will allow you to see the city from a different perspective and enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds it.
Don’t wait too long to get in line for the climb because, as you can see, there are many of us who think it is an excellent walk, especially on a sunny day.
If you love nature, the city offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities. You can go hiking in the surrounding area or even go kayaking on the river.
Walking along the river will help us discover a wide variety of gastronomic establishments with beautiful views.
Maison Leffe
Belgium has a wide variety of very good beers, one of the best known is Leffe, which has its cradle here in Dinant.
The Maison Leffe offers an interactive tour of the ancient monastery where it was born with tasting. The entrance fee is €12.
We enjoyed the walk and the Maison Leffe also has a hotel, and that’s where we stayed.
We then move on to the practical data.
As we said , we stayed at the Maison Leffe
The rooms were in the old monastery and were very nice decorated according to the place.
You have a tasting gift that you can enjoy at the maison’s bar.
We went by car as we had rented one for the entire tour of Belgium and the Netherlands.
Dinant is about 100 kilometres from Brussels . You can go by train for around €20 each way.
Or on an English-speaking guided tour that takes you to Namur and Dinant from Brussels.
I hope you enjoyed this tour of Dinant and that it inspired you to visit it.
NOTE: The information in this article is based on our own experience, being totally objective. This article contains affiliate links.
