I bring you back to tell you again about the wonderful town of Dinan, in the Côtes d’Armor dept 22 of my lovely Bretagne. I am happy to have found me more pictures in my cd rom vault that should be in my blog for you and me. Therefore, here is my take on the curiosities of Dinan part VII !! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The history of this tour de l’Horloge (see post) or Clock Tower begins at the end of the medieval period, that is to say at the end of the 15C and beginning of the 16C. The construction of the Clock Tower began during the reign of the Duke of Brittany François II, when the first stone was laid by Jean II de Rosnyvinen, governor of the city between 1471 and 1481. It was only in 1507 that the daughter of François II issued a letter of patent authorizing the installation of a clock on the tower, thus making the municipal tower a real belfry. A clock that is also famous was built and equipped with an exceptional mechanism still visible today on the ground floor of the building. Thanks to this clock, Dinan became one of the first Breton towns to have a belfry, at the same time, a bell was installed, named the Duchess Anne, an obvious tribute that resonates throughout the town… See before it on the pic the wonderful medieval house by 27 rue de l’Horloge.
The parrish Church Saint-Sauveur, named as the Basilica Saint-Sauveur (see post) in 1954 was built from the 12C was never completed and it houses the cenotaph of the heart of the constable Du Guesclin. Done in the Gothic, classic, and baroque style of construction, with a nice portal from the 12C
The rue du Jerzual, the hill most famous in Dinan that connects the port harbor to city center/downtown with a difference in height of 75 meters a slope of 35 % . A poor and noisy commercial artery until the 19C, the oldest street in the city has now become a tourist attraction. The construction of a viaduc in 1852, below the town, will change the vocation and appearance of Jerzual. Craftsmen took over the area to set up their workshops. Until 1930, the street was home to weavers, basket makers and tanners. Then it would experience silence and abandonment. In the 1970s, artists took over the street. The houses were in ruins, they would restore them step by step. Until they made Jerzual the prettiest street in the city. The most enigmatic too. To this day, no one knows what the word “Jerzual” means.
The Maison de la Harpe Celtique or the Celtic Harp House, in Breton Ti an Delenn called Hôtel de Kératry, at 4 rue de l’Horloge built in 1559 at 1 rue Guével in Lanvollon, it was sold in 1936. The mayor of Dinan, Michel Geistdoerfer, a volunteer in matters of protection of half-timbered houses, acquired it for the town and had it rebuilt in its current location in 1938. Since 2003, it has housed the headquarters of the International Celtic Harp Meetings Committee (CRIHC) and served as a venue for exhibitions and workshops. The first floor, projecting onto the street, rests on three granite columns. Its main pieces are made of wood, the walls are made of cob and on two of the facades, small figures have been sculpted and painted, in 16C costume.
Not much written on the square per se ,Place des Cordeliers , It has a house at 10 Place des Cordeliers from the 12C, At no, 16 another medieval house, See the La Bigoudène – Restaurant, at 17 Place des Cordeliers ,On August 7, 1944, GIs paraded on Place des Cordeliers. The city had just been liberated by the American army. However, the most historical and architecturally to enjoy here is the Cordeliers Convent dating from the 13C, was built by Henry d’Avaugour, Lord of Dinan. This fromer convent now houses the private Catholic Cordeliers high school.
The local Dinan Cap Frehel tourist office on Dinan : https://www.dinan-capfrehel.com/nos-incontournables/dinan-cite-medievale-bretagne/
The city of Dinan on its heritage : https://www.dinan.fr/mes-loisirs/culture-et-patrimoine/lieux-culturels/
The label Ville et Pays d’art et d’histoire on Dinan ( City and Country of Art and History): https://www.sites-cites.fr/territoires/dinan/
There you go folks, another dandy in my lovely Bretagne, in my road warrior trails of ever finding beauty all over my belle France, Delightful Dinan is a must to see , me think. Again, hope you enjoy the post on the curiosities of Dinan, part VII as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 