1) La promenade du Clair de Lune
2) Les villas belle époque
3) Le marché de Dinard
4) Coucher de soleil à la terrasse du Sunset
5) Prendre le bateau pour Saint Malo (@ Bateaux Rouges)
6) Croisière en Rance ou en mer
7) Profiter des plages. (La Fourberie)
8) Les galeries d'art dinardaises
9) La piscine extérieure du Priéuré
9) La piscine du Pool
10) Eglise anglicane
In this article I tell you the 10 essential things to do in Dinard during your stay at Clos de la Fontaine
- Walking on the Clair de Lune
- Visit the points of Malouine and Moulinet and admire the Belle Epoque villas
- Go to the Dinard market and the halls
- Admire the sunset from the Sunset terrace
- Take the boat to go to Saint Malo
- Take a cruise on the Rance or at sea
- Enjoy the beaches
- Shop downtown and visit art galleries
- Bathe in a seawater pool
- Discover the San Bartholomew Anglican Church
1) Take a walk on the Clair de Lune
100m from the Clos de La Fontaine vacation rentals, this is the emblematic and romantic promenade of Dinard between Prieuré beach and Pointe du Moulinet. It winds between Art Deco villas, neo-classical hotels, Mediterranean vegetation, flower beds and is home to a magnificent palm grove created in the 1930s. It offers a superb view of Prieuré Bay and Saint Malo.
From July to September, the city organizes a sound and light show. In the evening, as night falls, the promenade lights up and accompanies your walk with music. Every evening, a different theme: classical music, jazz or even contemporary variety. A magical atmosphere for a romantic stroll.
2) Visit the points of Malouine and Moulinet and admire the Belle Epoque villas
In the middle of the 19th century, the success and fame of Dinard rested on the English community. This Anglo-Saxon colony permeates the way of life and the landscape of the resort and is found in very exclusive clubs and in its Anglican church. It is on the Pointe du Moulinet and the Pointe de la Malouine which frame the main beach of Dinard that you can see the main Dinard villas which were built there from 1850 in a British style.
I advise you to bring the ""Dinard Circuits Découverte"" leaflet (present in my accommodation or at the tourist office) which presents these villas and their history. In Dinard, 407 villas are protected for their architecture.
The city owns the Villa les Roches Brunes which dominates the tip of Malouine and regularly organizes exhibitions there, which allows you to also visit the villa and its garden.
In another article I give you a hiking circuit to see the villas: https://www.closdelafontaine.fr/presentation/idees-de-randonnees-a-dinard-saint-malo.html
3) Go to the Dinard market and the covered market
What a pretty market and you can go there on foot from the Clos de la Fontaine vacation rentals (around 400m)!
It is good to linger there and take the time to hunt for some good products. It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful markets in the region.
Around the covered market, which is open every morning of the week, many merchants come to sell clothes, groceries, crafts, fruits and vegetables, meat, fish and seafood.
The little extras: a coffee or a white wine at the Café des Anges, a "Galette Saucisse" to take away (the best in my opinion is the one from Pleudihen), rillettes from Lepage sous les halles, mussels a la plancha at the Atelier Morisseau or a lunch at the Balafon restaurant on the east side of the market.
Practical information:
Les Halles de la Concorde: 18 traders every morning from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (except school holidays, not all traders are present on Monday morning)
Large market around the Halles de La Concorde:
From September 1 to December 31:
Tuesdays and Thursdays: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
From July 1 to August 31:
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays: 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Nearly 300 traders gather on the Halle esplanade during the season.
4) Admire the sunset on the Sunset terrace
If there is a terrace to admire the sunset in Dinard, this is it! A Dinard institution, a magnificent and relaxed place in summer to contemplate the sunset over the Dinard villas with a little drink. The Sunset is located on Ecluse beach on the Pointe du Moulinet side above the outdoor swimming pool. You can enjoy cheese and charcuterie boards there. No reservations, you have to try your luck.
If you like beautiful sea view terraces I recommend my article on the subject:
5) Take the boat to go to Saint Malo
No traffic jams, 10 minutes of crossing and a beautiful view of the bay, it is the best way to reach the old fortified town of Saint Malo. You take the boat at one of the piers located on Chemin du Clair de Lune. You can go there on foot from the Clos de la Fontaine vacation rentals.
Be careful in the evening the boats return early so check the timetables and if you want to stay for dinner in Saint Malo, there are also water taxis.
The two companies which make the connection:
https://compagniecorsaire.com/
In another article I give you two ideas for hikes using this boat connection with Saint Malo.
https://www.closdelafontaine.fr/presentation/idees-de-randonnees-a-dinard-saint-malo.html
6) Take a cruise on the Rance or at sea
Just like crossing the bay, you can take the boats that offer these excursions from the piers located on Chemin du Clair de Lune.
You have the choice between different sea excursions (towards Cap Fréhel, in the bay between Dinard and Saint Malo or a romantic outing at sunset...) or even going up the Rance towards Dinan with the Corsaire and Bateaux Rouges companies.
The guided trip up the Rance is one of my favorites: From the Rance Dam to the medieval city of Dinan, nature and history compete in charm. Here a fishing village, there an old castle or a Malouinière; there again the river becomes a lake, then canal lined with sheer cliffs... Dinan appears with its picturesque streets, its half-timbered houses, its city walls and its craftsmen's shops. The excursion lasts 2 hours 45 minutes one way and it is possible to return by bus in order to fully enjoy the break in the magnificent town of Dinan. A nice alternative is to take bikes and return via the towpath then the greenway to Dinard.
7) Enjoy the beaches
Dinard has four main white sand beaches sheltered by its rocky headlands dominated by villas.
Starting from the east you first have Plage du Prieuré which is the closest beach to the Clos de la Fontaine vacation rentals (200m). It offers a spectacular view of St Malo and the Clair de Lune promenade. At high tide swimming is very pleasant and if the sea is low a beautiful outdoor seawater swimming pool allows you to continue swimming.
The main beach or Ecluse beach is located between Pointe du Moulinet and Pointe de la Malouine. The sand is particularly fine and you benefit from the numerous terraces and small shops along it. It is the liveliest beach in Dinard.
Continuing eastwards you arrive at St Enogat beach which is a very family-friendly beach lined with villas and which offers a beautiful view of the island of Cézembre and Harbour. Behind the beach is the small village of Saint Enogat which is charming where you find various restaurants and bakeries.
After Saint Enogat beach you arrive at Port Blanc beach which borders the campsite of the same name which has a very nice outdoor bar Le Dome.
Between these different beaches you will find small, quieter coves like that of Notre Dame du Roc (between St Enogat beach and Port Blanc beach) which is charming. I advise you to continue further west to arrive at the first beach of Saint Lunaire which is called La Fourberie and is my favorite with its white tower which protects from the north wind, is quite wild and lined with maritime pines.
8) Shop downtown and visit art galleries
The center of Dinard is not very big but it is full of small decoration and clothing shops. Another particularity of the city center is the abundance of art galleries. It's nice to go from gallery to gallery and talk with the artists/galleries. My favorites: paintings of Alexandre Bonade and the Vue sur Mer gallery.
9) Bathe in a seawater pool
Dinard has three seawater swimming pools. The covered heated seawater swimming pool which is located on the large beach and can be an alternative in case of bad weather.
But to the delight of children, Dinard also has two outdoor swimming pools which fill with the tides. One is located 200M from the Clos de la Fontaine vacation rentals on the Clair de Lune path and next to Prieuré beach. Its large pool allows you to do great lengths. Right next door, you can enjoy the Cartagene terrace.
The swimming pool is located on the east side of Ecluse beach. It has a pretty round shape and in the evening many people take advantage of its beautiful atmosphere. It is overlooked by the beautiful Sunset terrace.
10) Discover the San Bartholomew Anglican Church
A little hidden treasure for the end. The Anglican church of Dinard has existed since 1870 and attests to the importance of the British community in the 19th century. It is located on rue Faber at the entrance to Pointe du Moulinet.
One of the particularities of the building is its exposed framework, inspired by a medieval English model. There are other original elements there: the benches and the wooden pulpit from the 19th century, a superb organ with around forty painted pipes, two alabaster and marble plaques commemorating illustrious figures of the British community.
You can also admire very beautiful stained glass windows, from the Mayer and Co workshops, in Munich (Germany), baptismal funds still in use... But when you enter the building, there are the colorful, embroidered cushions, symbols of families of the faithful , which are obvious.
I recommend also my article describing Dinard:
https://www.closdelafontaine.fr/presentation/portrait-de-dinard.html