Dinan

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Coordinates: 48°27′23″N 2°02′56″W / 48.45639, -2.04889

Commune of Dinan
Dinan
Château de Dinan
Location
Image:Paris_plan_pointer_b_jms.gif
Map highlighting the commune of
Coordinates 48°27′23″N 2°02′56″W / 48.45639, -2.04889
Administration
Country France
Region Bretagne
Department Côtes-d'Armor
Arrondissement Dinan
Intercommunality Dinan
Mayor René Benoît
(2001-2008)
Statistics
Elevation 7–92 m (23–300 ft)
Land area1 3.98 km2 (1.54 sq mi)
Population2
(1999)		 10,907
 - Density 2,740 /km² (7,100 /sq mi) (1999)
Miscellaneous
INSEE/Postal code 22050/ 22100
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.
France

Dinan (Breton: Dinan, Gallo: Dinan) is a walled Breton town and a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in northwestern France.[1]

Contents

Geography and natural features

Its geographical setting is exceptional. Instead of nestling on the valley floor like Morlaix, most urban development has been on the hillside, overlooking the river Rance. This river has moderate turbidity and its brownish water is somewhat low in velocity due to the slight gradient of the watercourse; pH levels have been measured at 8.13[2] within the city of Dinan and electrical conductivity of the waters have tested at 33 micro-siemens per centimetre. In the centre of Dinan the Rance summer flows are typically in the range of 500 cubic feet per second.

For many years, the bridge over the River Rance at Dinan was the most northerly crossing point on the river, but the tidal power station at the mouth of the estuary, constructed in the 1960s downstream from Dinan, incorporates a 750 meter long tidal barrage which doubles as a crossing point nearer to the sea.

Attractions

Major historical attractions include the Jacobins Theatre dating from 1224, the flamboyant Gothic St Malo's Church, the Romanesque St Saviour's Basilica, Duchess Anne's Tower and the Château de Dinan.

A major highlight in the calendar is Dinan's Fête des Remparts. The town is transformed with decoration and many locals dress up in medieval garb for this two-day festival. It occurs only every other year, which can catch visitors out.

Demographics

Inhabitants of Dinan are called Dinannais.

Breton language

In 2007, there was 4,5% of the children attended the bilingual schools in primary education.[3]

Notable people linked with Dinan

Dinan was the birthplace of:

Dinan is also associated with:

Dinan was also a favourite place for artists to visit in search of picturesque views. The British artist John Everett Millais lived there as a child. It was also painted by Edward Ward and Horace Tuck among others.

Gallery

The Rue du Jerzual is a steep medieval street connecting Dinan to the river below.

Statue of Jean de Beaumanoir.

Statue of Bertrand Du Guesclin.
Dinan Port on the Rance River

References

  1. ^ Atlas des Routes de France, Solar Press: Donnees IGN (2007)
  2. ^ Hogan, C. Michael, Water quality of freshwater bodies in France, Lumina Press, Aberdeen, Scotland(2006)
  3. ^ (French) Ofis ar Brezhoneg: Enseignement bilingue

See also

External links

Sister project Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Dinan