- Dinan
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For the automotive tuning company, see Dinan Cars. For the town in Belgium, see Dinant.
Dinan
Château de Dinan 
DinanLocation within Brittany region
DinanAdministration Country France Region Brittany Department Côtes-d'Armor Arrondissement Dinan Intercommunality Dinan Mayor René Benoît
(2001–2008)Statistics Elevation 7–92 m (23–302 ft) Land area1 3.98 km2 (1.54 sq mi) Population2 10,953 (2008) - Density 2,752 /km2 (7,130 /sq mi) 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 without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. Coordinates: 48°27′23″N 2°02′56″W / 48.4564°N 2.0489°W
Dinan (Breton: Dinan, Gallo: Dinan) is a walled Breton town and a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in northwestern France.
Contents
Geography
On the banks of the Rance River
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. The area alongside the River Rance is known as the port of Dinan and is connected to the town by the steep streets Rue Jerzual and its continuation outside the walls the Rue de Petit Fort 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[1] 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 (14 m3/s).
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.
Population
Historical population of Dinan 1793 1800 1806 1821 1831 1836 1841 1846 1851 1856 6393 6406 7188 7175 8044 7356 7533 8159 7732 8238 1861 1866 1872 1876 1881 1886 1891 1896 1901 8089 8510 7698 8180 9964 10,105 10,444 10,620 10,534 1906 1911 1921 1926 1931 1936 1946 1954 11,078 11,410 10,161 10,002 10,633 11,822 12,737 13,844 1962 1968 1975 1982 1990 1999 2008 12,847 13,137 13,429 12,267 11,591 10,907 10,953 Inhabitants of Dinan are called dinannais.
Attractions
The medieval town on the hilltop has many fine old buildings some as early as 13th century. The town retains a large section of the city walls, part of which can be walked around.
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.
Breton language
In 2008, 4.97% of primary school children attended bilingual schools.[2]
Personalities
Dinan was the birthplace of:
- Charles Beslay (1795–1878), member of the Council of the Paris Commune
- Théodore Botrel (1868–1925), poet and singer
- Yves Guyot (1843–1928), politician and economist
- Myrdhin (1950-), real name Rémi Chauvet, harpist and poet
- Auguste Pavie (1847–1925), explorer and diplomat
- Charles Pinot Duclos (1704–1772), author
- Jean Rochefort (born 1930), actor
- Da Silva (1976-), singer
Dinan is also associated with:
- François-René de Chateaubriand, writer, studied in Dinan
- Bertrand du Guesclin, connétable of France. Born at nearby Broons. His heart is buried in Dinan.
- Yvonne Jean-Haffen (1895–1993), painter, died in Dinan
- Danielle Mitterrand, wife of President François Mitterrand, educated at the Roger Vercel college
- Jean-François Paillard (born 1928), orchestral conductor, educated at the Cordeliers de Dinan
- Henri Pinault, (1904–1987), Roman Catholic Bishop of Chengdu, educated at the Cordeliers de Dinan
- René Pleven, (1901–1993), politician, minister, essayist. The hospital in Dinan is named after him.
- Roger Vercel (1894–1957), writer, winner of Prix Goncourt 1934, died in Dinan. A college in the town is named after him.
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
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The Rue du Jerzual is a steep medieval street connecting Dinan to the river below.
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Statue of Jean de Beaumanoir.
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Statue of Bertrand Du Guesclin.
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Saint Saviour's Basilica,
The main altar. -
Saint Malo's Church,
Font carried by the Demon. -
Saint Malo's Church,
Entrance of Anne of Brittany. -
Saint Malo's Church,
Transfer of Saint Malo's relics.
Dinan Port on the Rance River
Panorama from the belvedere of the Jardin Anglais (English garden)See also
References
- ^ Hogan, C. Michael, Water quality of freshwater bodies in France, Lumina Press, Aberdeen, Scotland(2006)
- ^ (French) Ofis ar Brezhoneg: Enseignement bilingue
External links
- (French) Town council website
- Dinan Basilica Image
- (French) French Ministry of Culture list for Dinan
Categories:- Communes of Côtes-d'Armor
- Subprefectures in France
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