Dinant is located in central Belgium, along the Meuse River in the province of Namur. Dinant is 65 km south of Brussels, 20 km south of Namur.
There are about 10,000 people in the city of Dinant.
Get there
There is a direct train from Brussels (North, Central and Midi stations) via Namur. The train and bus stations are located on Rue de la Station, on the west bank of the Meuse (opposite the citadel). By car, highway E411 through Namur (exit 20). From Namur, take the N92 south along the Meuse valley. Dinant is less than 200 km from Reims, France and the Champagne region.
Tourist information
The Dinant Tourist Office is located at Rue Grande, 37 – 5500 Dinant Phone: (082) 22.28.70
The saxophone and Dinant
Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone, was born in Dinant in 1814. A special itinerary called “Sax and the City” allows you to discover the city’s entertaining and musical tribute to his famous son:
- the urban exhibition “Art on Sax” (Pont Charles de Gaulle / Tourist Information Center and Espace Sax);
- the path of anamorphoses (Rue Adolphe Sax);
- La Maison de Monsieur Sax (House of the Lord Sax) (Rue Adolphe Sax);
- the Adolphe Sax bench, the work of the sculptor Jean-Marie Mathot (Rue Adolphe Sax);
- the “Espace Sax” (Place Collard);
- the giant saxophone (Rue St-Jacques);
- the Maison de la Pataphonie (51 Rue en Rhée)
- The portrait and bust of Adolphe Sax (entrance hall of the Hôtel de Ville / City Hall).
Just grab a brochure titled Sax and the City , containing a city map showing the location of each of these landmarks, from the tourist office and explore at your own pace.
Sights
The Citadel overlooks Dinant from its 100 foot cliff. The Citadel you see today was built during the Dutch occupation in the early 1800s, the French destroyed a previous fortification (built in 1051 and rebuilt in 1530) in 1703. To visit the Citadel, you can take a cable car located next to the cathedral. or climb 420 stairs, you choose. Inside there is a weapons museum, war museum, audiovisual presentation, tourist material and excellent views. Open all year (except weekdays in January and Friday from November to March).
Winter hours: 10 am to 4 pm Summer hours: 10 am to 6 pm (check current opening hours). Price: € 8 (Euro), children € 6, includes cable lift.
Notre Dame Cathedral was originally built as a Romanesque church in the late 12th century. In 1227 falling rocks destroyed the tower and the church was partially rebuilt in the Gothic style. In the late Middle Ages, Dinant became known for its metalworking capabilities, and many religious objects used in this valley were manufactured in Dinant and some are on display in the Cathedral.
Boat trips on the Meuse as well as other activities (such as boat and kayak rentals) can be found on the Dinant Tourism site: Leisure activities.
Grotte La Merveilleuse , a cave show from Belgium. Magnificent waterfalls and stalactites: the entrance to the cave is located about 500 m from the Dinant train station. Open from April to mid-November every day from 11 am to 5 pm (July / August until 6 pm). Adults: € 5 (Euro) – children € 3.50 (Euro).
Dinant makes a nice day trip from Brussels or northern Belgium to France or Luxembourg.
Where to stay in Dinant
The Best Western Hotel Dinant Castel de Pont à Lesse (direct book) is one of the few accommodation options in Dinant. There are other places to stay near the outskirts if you have a car.
