Dinant

Dinant is a small town in the province of Namur, in Wallonia, about 95 km southeast of Brussels, set along the Meuse river beneath a limestone cliff. The journey takes about 1 hour 20 minutes by train, with a change at Namur, and costs around €15 one way, with trains running roughly hourly. Dinant station sits a few minutes from the riverfront, so no further transport is needed. The town is dominated by the Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame, whose bulbous Gothic spire stands against the cliff, and the Citadel above it. Visitors reach the Citadel either by cable car from the riverfront or by climbing 408 steps. Inside, the fortress has exhibits on its military history and views along the valley. Dinant is also the birthplace of Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone, honoured by saxophone sculptures on the Pont Charles de Gaulle. The town is known for couques de Dinant, hard honey biscuits, and for Leffe, the abbey beer brewed in the area. In summer, kayaks and river cruises operate on the Meuse, and the Rocher Bayard, a limestone rock formation, sits just south of town. A good day begins with a morning arrival and a walk along the riverfront to the church, then the cable car to the Citadel. Lunch is available in the restaurants along the Meuse, where trout, local cheeses and Ardennes specialities appear on menus. The afternoon suits a river cruise or kayak outing, or a visit to the Maison de Leffe, before the train back to Brussels. The best season runs from April to October, when the cable car, boats and terraces are operating. Winter is quiet, with some attractions closed. A day typically costs between €50 and €90 including transport.