Introducing holidays in Dinard, Brittany

Discover holidays in Dinard. There's an unmistakable 1920s nostalgic charm to this corner of Brittany, and everyone from Churchill to Alfred Hitchcock is said to have enjoyed the classic seaside delights here.

Striped bathing tents dot the curved expanses of of the beach, overlooked by Victorian villas and the rather lovely Promenade du Clair de Lune, or moonlight promenade (bathing tents can be hired on Plage de l'Écluse). There are nightly beachside sound and light spectacles during the summer months. Picasso was a big fan of the area, having spent summers in Dinard for most of the 1920s, and with the beautiful views, it's easy to see what captured his imagination. Freshly caught fish happily dominates the food scene - the cod roasted in bacon and parmesan at the innovative Chez Ma Pomme is a particular treat.

Dinard is a slightly unexpected town to come across in Brittany. Its history as a fishing village was first pushed aside at the end of the 19th century, when the rich and fashionable of the time built their luxury houses here.

Toward the end of the 19th century it was thought of as France's no. 1 seaside resort and was the spot to be seen by the rich and famous. As a result of its 19th century popularity Dinard now has lots of attractive villas and houses and because of their very individual and eclectic style they are listed buildings.

To visit nearby

Les Jardins de Montmarin - Montmarin Garden. The garden is on the D114 not far from Dinard. The garden is on the banks of the River Rance and is laid out with a formal elegance in front of an 18th century mansion and a park further away from the house.

There are three pleasant beaches in the town, which are also the starting point for nice walks along the coastline, and there are several other nice sandy beaches nearby.

If you only have time to head out of town, head east for the views at the end of the headland called Moulinet Point (the eastern end of the Plage de l'Écluse). From here you get magnificent views across the water of St Malo. Along the way admire the sumptuous villas built to enjoy the sea views.

Another delightful walk is the 'Promenade du Clair de Lune' or 'Moonlight walk'. The walk connects the Prieure beach and the Pointe du Moulinet and takes you through the gardens which are lit up in the evening and have music playing. Port Breton Park opposite the Prieure beach has a large rose garden andand is great for kids as it has a range of children's games.

Dinard Casino - like many beach resorts in France Dinard has a casino. This can be found on the Plage de l'Écluse - Dinard's main beach and the location of many of Dinard's luxury hotels.

One if Brittany's addition to the great cuisines of the world is the crêpe and its savoury equivalent the galette; crêperies throughout the region attempt to pass them off as satisfying meals, serving them with every imaginable filling. However, few people can plan their holidays specifically around eating pancakes, and gourmets are far more likely to be enticed to Brittany by its delicious array of seafood. Restaurants in resorts such as St-Malo and Quiberon jostle for the attention of fish connoisseurs, while some smaller towns - like Cancale, which specializes in Oysters (huîtres), and Erquy, with its scallops (coquilles St-Jacques) - depend wholly on one specific mollusc for their livelihood.

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