A Day in Dinant, Belgium
Dinant (read in a French accent butchered by yours truly) is a city in the Walloon region of Belgium. I’m sure this sounds basic, but I first saw this picturesque gem of a place on Instagram, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. Instagram is a great way to find new ways to inspire your adventures! Don’t judge me. We went completely out of our way to explore Dinant, and I am SO happy we did! This is our favorite Belgium city yet.
Dinant is a magical place, lining the river Meuse with it’s centuries old Citadel built into the steep cliffs that stand tall behind a row of colorful houses. The Gothic Collegiate Church of our Lady can’t be missed, towering above the bridge stretching across the river.
We stayed in a house boat in Profondeville, about 20km away, and spent our first night among the locals, eating some kind of roast and drinking wine. The whole time questioning if we truly were in Belgium, or if we landed in a small French town.
We woke up early, grabbed croissants at the neighborhood patisserie then caught the 25 minute bus to Dinant.
Your Dinant Check List
Eat mussels
Dinant is known for it’s delicious mussels, so we stopped at the highly regarded Chez Bouboule to try them for ourselves. We sat outside at the edge of the river Meuse and romantically shared a pot of mussels and a bottle of rosé I can’t pronounce…Just kidding. I ate the entire pot and grossed out Luke. The wine was necessary.
Take the cable car up Citadel Hill
I’ve said it before – we’re suckers for a cable car, and this one is a must. You can take the 408 steps from the 1500s to the top instead, but we’re (mostly) sane so that was a hard no for us. The Citadel is home to an interactive museum detailing the rich history of Dinant, including it’s involvement in WWI. Along with the museum, you can enjoy an incredible panorama of the city. The cable car ticket includes your visit to the Citadel, and there is another package available that tacks on a river cruise as well. Visit the main website for tickets.
Hang out with Adolphe at the Sax Museum
Dinant is home to Adolphe Sax, the inventor of, you guessed it, the saxophone in the early 1840s. The museum is quaint and adorably named Maison de Monseur Sax, or “Mr. Sax’s House”, filled with quotes, old saxophones, as well as other instruments he invented. The museum is free to the public.
Drink a flight at Maison Leffe
Monks began brewing Leffe in 1240, and the Maison is a tribute to the history of the beer. The Maison Leffe is an interactive experience, where you learn more about the art and patience that went into brewing something that was originally meant to replace the water that was causing rampant disease. Then you enjoy a flight of beer that sends you back out into the world with rosy cheeks and a cheerful spirit. Basically you’ll leave here pretty inebriated.
Gothic Collegiate Church of our Lady
This 13th century Gothic cathedral is stunning and definitely worth taking the time to visit and appreciate.
Charles de Gaulle Bridge
The main bridge is named as a tribute to the President of the French Republic, as he was killed in the battle of Dinant in 1914. There are also large saxophones along the bridge’s walking paths that represent various members of the EU.
Grotte de Dinant la Marveilleuse
“Cave the Wonderful” was discovered in 1904 and considered one of the most beautiful caves in Europe. This is a highly recommended visit, but unfortunately was closed the day we were romping around town. Then again, it probably would have been a bad idea after all of that Leffe, considering we ended up played foosball with a little girl who only spoke French outside of the cave entrance instead. Now that I think about it, was this memory even real?
