Weekend in Dinard, time for an iodized and cultural break

For more than 150 years, its obvious charm has seduced tourists, painters, writers and large families, whose properties on the Pointe du Moulinet or at La Vicomté are in themselves a pretext for walks.

We can thus say that in 1880, Dinard became the first seaside resort in France.

also nicknamed it at the time "The queen of the beaches of the Emerald Coast" and did not hesitate to compare it to Monaco!

Strolling from one neighborhood to another, it's like being in Pornichet or Biarritz, plunging into the past at every street corner.

And if some wait to come to the Jumping international each year in July or the British film festival in September (the 33rd edition will be held this year from September 28 to October 2), the city delights its visitors all year round.

To discover

• Stays in France: weekends, hotels and tailor-made stays from our partners

The arrival

BY CAR.

By the A11 motorway – Paris/Rennes (l'Océane): 3 hours + 4 lanes RN137 – Rennes/Dinard: 45 minutes.

Autoroute des Estuaires (A84) to Caen, then Caen/Dinard.

BY TRAIN.

The simplest, the LGV Paris-Saint Malo line now lasts 2h20 on the shortest direct routes.

Then a taxi can reach Dinard in twenty minutes.

Bus connections from Saint-Malo station (10 km): line 16 BreizhGo to Dinard, La Richardais, Saint-Lunaire and Saint-Briac-sur-Mer.

Line 14 BreizhGo towards Beaussais-sur-Mer, via Lancieux.

MORE INFORMATIONS

Dinard Tourist Office:

dinardemeraudetourisme.com

Currently in Dinard

THE EXPO NOT TO BE MISSED

“The Arts by Moonlight”

Along the mythical promenade that connects Prieuré beach to Pointe du Moulinet, eight artists from the collective Art is in the Woods exhibit original works.

Monumental creations under the sign of the imprint, such as the

by Vincent Brodin, made of plastic bottles and inspired by the wave of Hokusai (photo above);

Fred Martin 's

, faces and bodies molded in clay or even Pandora, the pierced box by artist Elparo, pierced with pixels for the curious.

Course on the Promenade du Clair de Lune, until November 6, 2022.

THE GOOD TABLE

umbel

Freshly installed in the old English café, Ludovine and Alexandre continue the adventure in a slightly larger place.

Already rewarded by Gault et Millau, their gastronomic bistro cuisine is worth the detour.

Hake with smoked peppers and buckwheat, fillet of beef with sea herbs, line-caught tuna in basil broth: everything is simple, fair and tasty.

Appetizers from €12.50, mains from €20.

Restaurant Ombelle, 7 bd du President Wilson, 35800 Dinard.

Such.

: 09 88 03 35 35.

THE HOTEL IN VIEW

The Royal Emerald

A few steps from the Écluse beach and the Casino, you couldn't be better placed... Taken over by MGallery (Accor group), this house dating from the Belle Époque now houses 47 rooms on the colonial theme, Orient-Express or Roland Garros aviator.

Suites with terraces or rooms nestled under the roofs, all have a delicious vintage atmosphere.

We also go there to have a cocktail at the bar, curled up in club armchairs.

From €140 per double room excluding breakfast.

Hotel Royal Emeraude Dinard MGallery, 1 bd Albert 1er, 35800 Dinard.

Such.

: 02 99 46 19 19.

Day 1: walk and shopping

MORNING

The tip of the Malouine and the villa Les Roches Brunes.

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The history of Dinard is intimately linked with that of its houses overlooking the sea. From 1858 the fashion for sea bathing created the seaside resort and then attracted the Anglo-Saxons, whose Belle Époque villas have been the gem of the city.

The tourist office organizes guided tours until November, in the footsteps of the British style, but also the mosaics

or the architecture of the Roaring Twenties.

Those who prefer to walk alone can stroll in front of the famous

, pass by the

and admire the exceptional view from the walkway.

LUNCH BREAK

New chef, new decor, Stéphane and Véronique Lesage have opened

instead of the Café Rouge, with a menu that gives pride of place to seafood. With the children, book at

, open in July, a creperie which thinks of children by reserving a small playroom for them.

Behind the pretty green facade, a vintage-inspired decor and a menu of pancakes, pancakes, burgers and fish of the day.

AFTERNOON

Le 29, Le 5eme Homme, Galerie Winston... Dinard is full of trendy boutiques and pretty galleries.

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The city center of Dinard is full of small trendy shops, to make some fashion discoveries or unearth the ideal gift.

concept store

, for a cutting-edge selection of women's clothing and jewelery designers.

For men,

is now the emblematic brand of the city, with its lobster as a signature on shirts, marinières or polo shirts.

In the parallel street,

presents the paintings of official painters of the navy, Breton painters as well as works by Bernard Buffet.

For tea and coffee lovers, you must visit the

opened in 1996 by Claudine and Jean-Bernard Renaudineau.

Simple importers at the start, they have created their own tea house and also offer a selection of British products in their adorable shop.

Evening

The "Pourquoi Pas" restaurant loves epicureans, some even come on purpose to discover the cuisine of chef Julien Hennote.

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Dinner at the restaurant

du

is now a must for a stay in Dinard.

Chef

, a native of Dinan, won his first star there in 2019. Since then, he has continued to seduce with his subtle and refined mastery of local products, mackerel, squid, langoustines, lobster... With the final point, the creations of the pastry chef Annabelle Leveque.

For wine lovers, head to

, at the entrance to Port Breton Park.

Launched in 2021 by two passionate sommeliers, Milena Cugny and Benjamin Joinville, their locavore menu combines vegetable dishes, meat or fish depending on market arrivals.

They regularly offer tasting workshops to discover the wines of independent winegrowers.

Day 2: relax and cruise

MORNING

From La Vicomté to La Roche Pelée, Dinard has a 7.5 km pedestrian walkway that allows you to follow the entire seafront along the cliffs.

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Walkers in need of hiking can afford the

, a portion of the GR34 with breathtaking views.

From the tip of the peeled rock at St Enogat to the Vicomté, the 7.5 km course is done on the side of a cliff in the heart of often Mediterranean vegetation.

The most motivated can extend to Saint Lunaire and Saint Briac.

To recover from this long walk, you can book a treatment at the thalassotherapy centre.

Taken over by the

the 2800 m2 space overlooking the sea allows you to relax in one of the 49 treatment cabins and a large swimming pool bathed in natural light.

Open all winter, despite a facelift of the sea view rooms, the place offers cures to recharge your batteries and let go for three or six days.

Read alsoGR 34: “At each bend, a new postcard”

LUNCH BREAK

An ideal gastronomic stop at the water's edge,

deploys an iodized cuisine imagined by the starred chef Christian Le Squer.

Land and sea pairings underlined by fresh products from local fishing and seasonal vegetables from Breton market gardeners.

As a bonus, a fine wine list led by sommelier Cédric Maupoint, who learned his trade in Parisian palaces.

tea room

has changed its menu.

In addition to Sunday brunches, it offers organic salads, galettes, coffees and drinks.

A perfect break for vegetarians.

AFTERNOON

Cap Fréhel, where guillemots, penguins, oystercatchers, crested cormorants nest… Erwan Le Roux / stock.adobe.com

We treat ourselves to a boat trip to venture a little further on the Emerald Coast.

From the two docks in Dinard, the Compagnie Corsaire organizes cruises with commentary to discover Cap Fréhel in particular, where guillemots, penguins, oystercatchers, crested cormorants nest... A journey that also passes by the castle of Fort La Latte, a fortress built in the XIV century.

Those who prefer calm waters can choose the ride on the Rance which allows you to reach the medieval town of

passing between malouinière and fishing villages.

Read alsoThe Emerald Coast from Cancale to Cap Fréhel, immersed in elegant Brittany

Address Book

WHERE TO RESTORE?

Les Baigneuses, 19 bd du President Wilson, 35800 Dinard.

Such.

: 02 23 15 74 47.

L'Écluse, 3 bd Feart, 35800 Dinard.

Such.

: 02 99 46 70 52.

La Parenthèse, 2 ter rue du Maréchal Leclerc 35800 Dinard.

Such.

: 09 83 84 58 18.

La Vallée, 6 avenue George V, 35800 Dinard.

Such.

: 02 99 46 94 00.

La Ritournelle, 2 rue de l'Isle Celée, 35800 Dinard.

Such.

: 06 21 22 27 52.

Le Pourquoi Pas restaurant, 17 avenue George V, 35800 Dinard.

Such.

: 02 99 80 30 00.

Emeria Hotel & Thalasso, 1 avenue du château Henert, 35800 Dinard.

Such.

02 99 16 78 10.

SHOPPING

29, 17 rue du Maréchal Leclerc, 35800 Dinard.

Such.

: 02 23 18 49 93.

Lindfield, 48 rue Levavasseur, 35800 Dinard.

Such.

: 02 99 16 96 77.

Winston Gallery, 20 rue Winston Churchill, 35800 Dinard.

Such.

: 02 99 56 28 65.

The 5th man, 29 rue du Maréchal Leclerc, 35800 Dinard.

Such.

: 09 67 05 63 64.

OR SLEEP ?

Hotel Barrière Le Grand Hotel

Built in 1858, the Grand Hôtel Barrière has hosted celebrities and crowned heads due to the popularity of the seaside resort of Dinard.

Barrier / Photo press

The emblematic establishment has been given a new lease of life after several months of restoration in 2019. Deep blue, forest green and sand beige shades ensure a glamorous and cozy atmosphere.

Not only does the place have a breathtaking view of the sea and Saint-Malo, but it is also the starting point for the Clair de Lune walk.

From €292 for a superior room, breakfast included.

Hôtel Barrière Le Grand Hôtel Dinard, 46 Avenue George V 70143, 35801 Dinard.

Such.

: 02 99 88 26 26.

PRICES AND AVAILABILITY WITH BOOKING.COM

The Valley Hotel

A few steps from the lively center of Dinard, located at the Pointe du Moulinet, the Bec de la Vallée slipway offers multiple views of the bay of Saint-Malo and its fortified town.

The Valley / Photo press

Located a stone's throw from the centre, on the famous Cale de la Vallée, the hotel has 23 comfortable and perfectly equipped rooms.

In terms of decoration, bare rock and maritime concordances come together in a sober decor that echoes the sea so close.

From €200 per night in a double room.

Hotel De La Vallée, 6 av.

George V, 35800 Dinard.

Such.

: 02 99 46 94 00.

PRICES AND AVAILABILITY WITH BOOKING.COM

Hotel Castelbrac

In Dinard, the unmissable Castelbrac is housed in the former marine research station run by Commander Charcot.

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A legendary 19th century villa that has become an aquarium, this extraordinary five-star hotel is now an unmissable address in the Breton city.

The place offers an Art Deco decoration in the rooms, in the restaurant "Pourquoi Pas" and in the bar "Aquarium".

A Gemology spa allows you to treat yourself to a break with precious stones, but the highlight is the fabulous outdoor swimming lane, for lengths in hot water.

From €315 for a double room and €788 for the Suite.

Castelbrac Hotel & Spa, 17 avenue George V, 35800 Dinard.

Such.

: 02 99 80 30 00.

Read alsoThe Castelbrac hotel in Dinard, the expert opinion of