I consider Dinard, France a hidden treasure because many do not know about it, and it offers a great getaway from the more popular destinations such as Saint-Malo which is located across the Rance River. Dinard has a population of about ten thousand (10,000) people and is on the northern coast of Bretagne.
Labeled “the most British resort” in France because the Rance River flows into the English Channel, Dinard is right on the water offering a wide variety of water sports and sunbathing. The architecture of this seaside town is fantastic dating back hundreds of years.
A Bit of History on Dinard, France
Dinard was first settled by shipping merchants from the nearby town of Saint-Malo. Originally part of the parish of Saint-Enogat, in the late nineteenth (19th) century British and American aristocrats turned Dinard into a high-scale summer resort and built large villas on the cliff tops as well as fashionable and exclusive hotels on the coast.
Although there was rapid expansion, by the 1930s the town began to decline when the elite and socialites sought other parts of France for their leisure activities. With over four hundred and seven (407) listed villas, Dinard today retains its French charm while being considered the most British of all resorts on the coast of France.
Until 1879 the town’s official name was Saint-Enogat when the name was then changed to Dinard-Saint-Enogat. Then in 1921, the name was changed again to Dinard as it is today. The western area of the town is called Saint-Enogat. During the Battle of Saint-Malo during World War II, the town was liberated by American forces in 1944.
A Few Interesting Facts
- Dinard is known for its beaches and mild climate
- It is the site of an international film festival
- It is a holiday destination for many with its hotels and casinos
- It has a population of approximately 10,000 people but can reach 40,000 with visitors during the holiday season
- Dinard is located on the Gulf Stream so the temperatures are warm but vary according to the season
- the Grand Hôtel Barrière (5-star) overlooks the Rance estuary and along with the Castelbrac (5-star), the former Villa “Bric à Brac”, are considered the most exclusive hotels in the area
- the Thalassa Dinard/Villas de La Falaise is an exclusive seawater therapy center
- Winston Churchill and the actress, Joan Collins, have holidayed in the area. In the 1920s Picasso painted here and the English writer T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) lived here as a small child.
- the town has many bars and very good restaurants
- the warm summer months attract many visitors to the numerous beaches in town
- expositions are handled in the town hall and there is a casino with a restaurant overlooking the sea
- surfing is done at the Longchamp Beach and there is a golf course in the area of nearby towns of Saint-Lunaire and Saint-Briac-Sur-Mer
- each year in early October there is a Festival of British cinema
- of the many beaches, the main beach is Plage de l’Écluse with the Saint-Énogat and Prieuré beaches also very popular
Things to do in Dinard, France
* Dinard Stree Market — you will find numerous items here including various kinds of food, clothing, and housewares. It is a fun experience and an opportunity to interact with the locals.
* Chemin de Ronde — an old castle with outstanding architecture with stunning views of the sea, nature, and the surrounding villas.
* Barrage de la Rance — built in the 1960s this bridge is a very well-engineered power source for electrical energy. It is well worth the time to explore and learn about how this energy is generated.
* Villa Les Roches Brunes — located on the tip of Malouine, this is the home to many exhibitions with fantastic panoramic views of the area.
* Notre Dame d’Emeraude de Dinard — this is the main cathedral in the city and a wonderful piece of Gothic architecture with bright colors and the ever-present scent of the sea.
* Promenade du Clair de Lune — this is a path along the ocean surrounded by the rocky cliffs and many villas overlooking the sea. It is a very romantic setting.
* Plage de Saint-Enogat — this is a great beach to walk, relax, sunbathe, or have a picnic. There are nearby cafes to get a refreshment while you walk on the beach.
* Eglise Anglicane Saint Bartholomew — built in the nineteenth (19th) century overlooking the harbor of St. Malo this church is an amazing piece of architecture within and without. It has much history to share as Dinard grew from a small fishing village to an international resort.
* Plage de l’Ecluse — a wonderful sandy beach with a view of St. Malo it is great for a family outing with plenty of facilities close by.
* Parc de Port Breton — this 56 acre (23 hectares) park has stunning ocean views, a manor house, a rose garden, and plenty of wildlife. A great place for a family get-together.
* Breizh Escape — here is a fun activity for family and friends to discover the history of Dinard, St. Coulomb, and St. Malo. These are full-scale escape games set in marvelous locations with authentic interiors. You work as a team against the clock to find your way out of a locked room. You are working against the clock to solve puzzles, discover secret passageways, open chests, and more. You quickly discover the importance of teamwork. It is quite an exciting experience.
* Statue d’Alfred Hitchcock — the rumor, although not authenticated, is that Hitchcock based the house in his movie Psycho on a villa in Dinard overlooking Plage de l’écluse. The statue itself has a crow and seagull on its shoulders.
* Sentier des douaniers — take a walk along the pink granite coast with fantastic views from Trestraou Beach to Ploumanach.
* Les Halles et le Marche — this is a local outdoor market with plenty of fresh produce and local products. Seafood, bread, vegetables, and other products are available here.
* Pointe du Moulinet — close to Dinard’s main beach, this headland provides amazing views of the sea across the estuary from St. Servan and St. Malo, and there are majestic gardens along the way as well. 
Why Visit Dinard, France?
For a relaxing summer holiday, this is a wonderful place to visit. It is great for hiking with spectacular views along the long coastal promenade. A seaside resort with sandy beaches and some fascinating history as well. It is considered one of the most elegant resort towns on the Brittany coast.
It has come a long way from the home of St. Malo’s shipping merchants who built their amazing villas and mansions here, to now being one of the most popular seaside resorts on the Emerald Coast of Brittany.
The accommodations range from boutique hotels to more simple lodgings including apartment rentals. You have several options from which to choose.
All in all Dinard, France just might be an interesting getaway to put on your destination list.
Enjoy your travels,
Joseph William
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It’s amazing to me how the amount of visitors is so much more than the actual population! They must really rely on tourism. For a hidden treasure that not many know about, 40,000 visitors is still quite a lot. You mentioned surfing at Longchamp Beach. I never even realized anyone surfed in France. I didn’t really think they had the kind of waves where that is even possible.
Thanks Lynn for your thoughts and comments. This is a nice part of the world.