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Dinard is a French commune on the Côte d'Émeraude of Brittany. Its beaches and mild climate make it a holiday destination. With its international film festival, villas, sumptuous hotels and casino, Dinard is regarded as one of the most prestigious seaside resorts in all of France.
Understand
The town has a permanent population of about 10,000 people (2017), but in the summer, the population swells to over 40,000 with the influx of holiday makers.
History
Dinard was first settled by Saint-Malo's shipping merchants who built some of the town's larger houses, very few of which survive. In the late 19th century, American and British aristocrats made Dinard a fashionable summer resort. They built stunning villas on the cliff tops and exclusive hotels such as the 'Le Grand Hotel' on the seafront during the French "Belle Époque".
The name Dinard comes from the words "Din" ("hill"/"fort") and Ard/Art ("fortified").
In the late 19th century, the resort became popular with the British wealthy who built villas on the coast. Dinard rapidly expanded. It started declining in the 1930s when the fashionable social set started preferring the Côte d'Azur. Today, Dinard is considered as one of the most "British" of sea resorts in France, however it has retained its French charm. There are 407 listed villas.
Climate
Dinard lies on the Gulf Stream which means it enjoys a warm climate, several degrees warmer than the surrounding areas. The Yacht club has fine examples of tropical palms and plants, which stretch round the coast on the Promenade du Clair de Lune.
Get in
By plane
- Saint-Malo-Dinard-Pleurtuit Airport IATA: DNR at Pleurtuit and Saint-Lunaire (5 km south-southwest of Dinard and 8 km southwest of Saint-Malo), +33 2 99 46 18 46 - flights from London.
Get around
See
The attractions include a casino with a restaurant facing the sea and a hall which hosts many expositions.
Do
- Dinard holds every year a Festival of British Cinema in the first days of October.
- The nearby town of Saint-Briac-sur-Mer has a fairly large golf course.
- The nearby town of Saint-Lunaire has the beach of Longchamp, renowned as a "surfers' spot".
Beaches
The town has several beaches, all of which are sandy, clean and large. The main beach is Plage de l'Écluse and the second largest are Saint-Énogat and Prieuré beaches.
Buy
Eat
Drink
Dinard cannot boast much nightlife, but many bars and fine restaurants fill the town's streets.
Sleep
- Manoir de la Vicomté 6 avenue Georges Pian, +33 2 99 46 12 59, email: manoir.vicomte@wanadoo.fr (June 2020)
- Camping Municipal Port-Blanc Rue du Sergent Boulanger, +33 2 99 46 10 74, email: info@camping-port-blanc.com (June 2020)
- Hôtel du Parc des Tourelles (Brit Hotel du Parc des Tourelles) 20 Avenue Edouard VII, +332 99 46 11 39 - free. This hotel with a family atmosphere in Dinard is in a building from the early 20th century with standard rooms with free wi-fi and flat screen TV; bar. It has 19 rooms (Sep 2015)