DINARD

Located in northern Brittany on the Côte d'Emeraude ("Emerald Coast"), at the mouth of the Rance estuary, Dinard is a delightful seaside town of vast sandy beaches and a myriad paths snaking along the coastline.

In 2002, the town was granted the prestigious label of Ville d'Art et d'Histoire ("City of Art and History") on the strength of its magnificent architectural heritage. Dinard boasts just over 400 Belle Epoque villas and a casino.

British influence can be seen in the city's architecture: houses with bow-window fronts, parks and gardens, but also a vibrant cultural life with for example the famous Dinard British Film Festival.

Just like Oscar Wilde, Winston Churchill, Jules Verne, Claude Debussy and Pablo Picasso, let the town of Dinard and its breath-taking panoramas win you over.

Once a humble fishing village, Dinard was named after the legendary King Arthur: "Din" as in hill or fort, and "Arz" meaning bear or Arthur. It is only in the 19th century that Dinard's history began to unfold.

The climate and coastal regions caused the British to take interest in the area for its potential as a seaside resort. A number of bath-houses and similar establishments were established around 1830, and this marked the shift towards an economy based on tourism. The local casino opened its doors as early as 1866 and a multitude of villas were built along the coastline.

During the First World War, the large hotels were transformed into hospitals, but fortunately the city itself was spared by the bombings. Ironically, it is the crisis of 1929 which crippled the city and ended a long-lasting golden era. The town has remained a favoured beach resort and in 1966 the establihsment of the Rance tidal power plant, the first of its kind, marked the beginning of a modern era in Dinard.

The city of Dinard has boasted the City of Art and History ("Ville d'art et d'histoire") label since 2002.

The splendor of the 19th century left its mark on Dinard, with for example the mansion known as the Château des Deux Rives ("Castle of the Two Banks"). This edifice, built in 1878 for a Lebanese count, is ideally located on a high headland which commands a view of the entire Rance estuary.

Other villas that testify to a rich history can be seen from the beach or by strolling through the Ecluse quarter.