The town of Dinan is over a thousand years old and consists of two parts: the fortified upper town, with its timber-framed houses, alleys, booths and mediaeval churches, enclosed within the old city walls, and the harbour town below.
The town was prosperous in the Middle Ages, mainly due to its trade with England. A locality known as the 'champ-clos' (the battlefield), commemorates Du Guesclin defeating Sir Thomas Canterbury there, thus saving Dinan from falling into the hands of the English. A statue of Du Guesclin celebrates this feat of arms. The ramparts were fortified in the 15th century.
In the 19th century, Dinan was primarily a holiday destination, with a very considerable British population. It would remain a garrison town until 1914.
Distance from the Château de Boucéel
51 km
50 minutes by car
