6 must-see places near Dinant, Belgium from a local traveller

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Dinant is a well-known city in the Condroz region alongside the Meuse river, which is famous for its incredible architecture and history. You should know that Dinant was already inhabited in the 7th century and the name Dinant meaning “Sacred Valley” was invented by the Celts. This city has seen many wars, legends, and settlements. This is why the Citadel of Dinant, which was built to control the Meuse valley from its enemies, is such an important building. You can also find all of these and more on our map.

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1. Citadel of Dinant

Planning a visit to Dinant? Never skip a visit to the wonderful Citadel on top of the vertical rock behind the “Notre Dame the Dinant” church. You can choose to take the cable car to the entrance of the Citadel or take your courage into your own hands and face the 408 steps to the top. The viewpoint at the end is so worth it, you have a panoramic view over the Meuse river and the center of Dinant. Inside different rooms will guide you through the history of the city and its many battles.

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2. Rocher Bayard

Driving through Dinant you may arrive at a certain peculiar street where you will find the impressive “Rocher Bayard”. This rock is split in two, and although the passage seems small, cars, busses, and even trucks pass this road every day to enter the city. It’s an incredible drive and it will blow your mind that this is still in Belgium as the scenery will let you believe that this could easily be in Switzerland.

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3. Castle Frëyr

Only 5 km from the city centre of Dinant you will find the beautiful castle Frëyr and its exquisite gardens. This domain has been for 20 generations in the family of the former Dukes of Beaufort-Spontin. The Renaissance gardens are fascinating and will leave young and old astonished by their beauty.

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4. Castle Walzin

Are you fond of castles and their intriguing history? Another beautiful place you must not miss out on during your trip to the region of Dinant is castle Walzin. It always astonishes me how this building was built right on the edge of a massive cliff, with the Lesse river flowing beneath it. You can choose to enjoy a visit to the castle or to go on a walk to a secret viewpoint where you can take the most lovely pictures.

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5. Castle Vêves

Looking for a castle straight from a fairy tale? Castle Vêves is a remarkable castle with military architecture that dates from the 15th century. What I like the most about this castle are its unique treasure hunts for families. Every child will get their own knight or princess costume and together they will do little quests to find the treasure.

The surroundings of castle Vêves are magnificent and are perfect for a stroll on a beautiful day. Would you like to combine castle Walzin and Castle Vêves? There is a beautiful walk, which you can do on foot or by bike of 15 km that connects both castles.

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6. Park Furfooz

Not far from Dinant you have the beautiful park of Furfooz, which will leave you breathless with its amazing rock formations. This is a perfect place for a family walk of 4 km through forests, meadows, and the Lesse riverbanks. The park is 50 hectares and has 15 special sites along the way. Go through tunnels, take natural stairs and watch the sheep who help to maintain this beautiful reserve. Currently, reservation is needed on their website.

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I hope you will enjoy these 6 stunning places on your next road trip to Dinant. Don’t forget to bring your camera to capture all the incredible memories you will make during this trip and I wish you an amazing moment while discovering the beauty of Belgium.