Dinant, Belgium

View of Dinant from the Meuse
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dinant_JPG01.jpg
Author: Jean-Pol GRANDMONT


Dinant is a city in the French-speaking Wallonia region of Belgium. Located on the Meuse River, Dinant is in the province of Namur. The city is close to the border with France. It covers 99.8 sq km and has a population of 13,000. It observes the Central European Time Zone (UTC+1) and in summer the Central European Summer Time (UTC+2).

Visitors to Dinant will not fail to notice its most prominent landmark, the Collegiate Chruch of Notre-Dame, built in the Gothic style. The people in Dinant predominantly speak French. Among the local delicacies include Flamiche, a local version of quiche, and couque, a honey-sweetened cookie.

Abbaye Notre-Dame de Leffe, Dinant
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leffe,Abbaye_%28batiment_principal%29.JPG
Author: Grentidez


As with many of the cities in Europe, Dinant has a history going back over a thousand years. In fact the area was inhabited since Neolithic times. Various Celtic tribes also lived there before the Romans took over control. The town of Dinant was first mentioned in the 7th century, when Saint Perpete founded the church of Saint Vincent there.

The city of Dinant has suffered for its location on the River Meuse. Often it was pillaged and burned, and in the 16th and 17th century, was caught in the war that raged between Spain and France, despite trying to remain neutral. French forces occupied Dinant in 1675 while Austrians in the 18th century. In 1795, the Bishopric of Liège, with Dinant along with it, was ceded to France. In the First World War, 674 of its people were executed by the German Army - the biggest massacre committed by the Germans in 1914.

Today Dinant is a modern, prosperous city - mean annual income stood at €10,529 in 2003, a far cry from the war days. It has a number of historic sights that have been preserved and are today tourist attractions.

Meuse Riverbank, Dinant
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dinant_Meuse_R01.jpg
Author: Marc Ryckaert

Visiting Dinant

Take a train from Brussels. The journey takes an hour and 30 minutes. Dinant Railway Station is in the city center, a short distance from the river.

L'église de la Nativité de Notre-Dame in Dinant
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Foy-Notre-Dame_JPG01.jpg
Author: Jean-Pol Grandmont (Private Collection)

Places of Interest in Dinant

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