Dinan

Dinan is a common French, located in the department of the Coast-with Armor and the area Brittany. This city is strengthened by a belt of ramparts.
Point strategic for circulation between the Normandy and the northern coast of Brittany, Dinan is built mainly on a hill. The city dominates of 75 m the Rance which runs towards north to throw itself in the Manche between Saint-Malo and Dinard. Dinan proposed a long time the bridge more in north to cross the Rance and its broad Estuaire.

History

The area of Dinan could be inhabited since the Neolithic era as leaves it think the presence of a dolmen in ruins of the exit of the city in direction of Lanvallay. The history of Dinan is known as from the 11th century, although the site without was undoubtedly occupied since antiquity. It is at the time a village in which a convent Bénédictin is established. One of the fragments of the Tapisserie of Bayeux evokes the destruction by William the Conqueror of a wood palisade.

Organized around the parishes Saint-Malo and Saint-Saver, half of Dinan is bought in 1283 by the duke of Brittany Jean the Russet-red. It is at that time that the city acquires the belt of ramparts that one knows to him. The turns of Beaumanoir, Vaucouleurs, Holy Julien, Beaufort, of the Constable, of Coëtquen, Penthièvre, Long and Holy Catherine surround the old city in the trigonometrical direction. This still intact covered way on 2600 m is bored by the doors of Jerzual, of Saint-Malo, of Brest, of the Counter and later of Saint-Louis (1620). In 1357, at the time of the war of succession of the Duchy of Brittany, Bertrand of Guesclin successfully defends the city besieged by the English troops and the Breton faithful ones to Jean de Montfort. He faces Thomas of Canterbury in singular combat and victorious fate. In 1364, after several infructeuses attempts, the duke Jean {{IV}} manages to take again the control of the city and made there build the keep known as " duchess Anne ". The fortifications of the city are modernized in second half of the 15th century with the addition of several artillery turns. The guns will never draw: the governor of the city returns the keys to the representative of king de France after the battle of Saint-Aubin of Cormier in 1488. Like all the other Breton cities, Dinan is definitively attached to the Kingdom of France at the end of the 15th century.

The city continues to thrive, with an artisanal activity constant intramurally and the presence of the port on the Rancid one which supports the trade. Dinan controls the waterway indeed making it possible to transport the goods to Saint-Malo. In 1598, Dinan chooses the camp of new King de France, Henri {{IV}}, against its governor, the Duc of Mercœur which is opposed to it at the time of the wars of the League. It is as from this time that the fortifications lose their defensive use and are not maintained any more. At the 17th century, other religious orders establish new convents: Capuchins, Ursulines, Bénédictin be, Dominicain are, Clarisse S is added to the Cordeliers and with the Jacobin S. Dinan is quoted to have taken part in the Révolte of the stamped paper which has occurred in 1675.

At the 18th century, the marketing activity is stimulated by the installation of many tisserands, which produces in particular fabrics used for the veils of the ships, sent then to Saint-Malo by the valley of the Rancid one. Under the impulse of a middle-class which develops, various measurements are taken to fight against insalubrity reigning in the city, parallel to its extra-muros development.

At the 19th century, the port loses its importance gradually, with the construction of a road viaduct which disencloses the city, in 1852, and with the arrival of the railroad in 1879. The city sees building many residences cossues and is transformed little by little into destination of holiday, particularly appraisal by the British.

In spite of a fire in 1907 which destroyed five houses in half-timbering, and a bombardment in August 1944, the city remained almost intact since the beginning of the 20th century. In the night of the 6 at June 7th, 2007, a small portion of the ramparts surrounding the city crumbled and will require later consolidation work.

Nowadays, the city largely restored its inheritance. Half-timbered houses still border the place of the Cordeliers, the street of the Clock, street of Jerzual and other paved ways of the center celebrates it. The churches Saint Saver and Holy Malo rise in the middle of the old parishes of the city.

Very tourist, the city was used as decoration in several scenes of the Armageddon film of Michael Bay (1998), at the time of the passage of the asteroid above France right before being crushed on Paris.

Dinan overflows today of its ramparts and extends to the communes from Léhon, Quévert, Taden and Lanvallay.

Administration

Demography

Economy

The city has an antenna of the Chamber of commerce and industry of Coast-in Armor.

Monuments

Dinan is classified town of art and history.

  • Castle-museum of Dinan and ramparts.

  • Church Saint-Malo : construction spread out between the end of the 15th century and the end of the 19th century. Of Gothic style and rebirth, it is especially famous for its stained glasses of the beginning 20th polychromic century and its English organ with the pipes, manufactured by Oldknow in 1889.
  • Tour of the Clock : this belfry of the 15th century, high of 45 m, symbolizes the prosperity of the city. It still has the bell offered by the Anne duchess.
  • Convent of Cordeliers : founded at the 13th century, the current buildings date from the 15th century. The convent accommodated the general states of Brittany in 1573 and 1634. Restored at the 19th century, it shelters an establishment of private education now.
  • Basilica Saint-Saver : built as from the 12th century, it did not cease being tranformée and remains finally unfinished. It shelters the tomb containing the heart of the constable of Guesclin. Marrying many styles (novel, Gothic, traditional and baroque) its remarkable gate dates from the 19th century.
  • the station of Dinan , architect Georges-Robert Lefort (1875-1954), registered like Historic building in 1995.

Transport

Events

  • the Festival of the ramparts

The time of a week end Dinan becomes again a medieval city, with its tournaments, its taverns, its adjusters of bear. the access to the city is free for the dressed up people.
  • the Child in the city
During two days, Dinan is transformed into gigantic free village fair in which one can find demonstrations of firemen, karting, climbing, concerts.
  • Dinan' Zik
  • the Barocks whose last edition was held the 11 and April 12th, 2003.
  • Every years, in December, publication of the review Country of Dinan : history, literature, art and ethnography (in 2006, the volume will appear)

Tourist frequentation

Architectural heritage, port of the Rancid : Dinan is affirmed like one of the principal tourist sites of the North of the Brittany and the Coast-with Armor.

Personalities related to the commune

Twinning

A strong bond is maintained with its Belgian homonym: . Every 5 years a festive exchange takes place between the cities Breton and Walloon.

See too

Related article

  • Common of Coast-in Armor

External bonds

  • Site of the town hall of Dinan

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