The best traffic-free bike rides around Dinan

From the popular piety of earlier centuries, it was part of life in Brittany that everyone who could in any way do so undertook a great pilgrimage to the seven cathedrals of Brittany, the so-called “founding saints”. This was called “Tro Breiz” (Tour through Brittany) in Breton. Estimates suggest that in the 14th century, up to 40,000 people had to cover a distance of almost 700 kilometers for this purpose. It is said that if one did not complete the Tro Breiz during their lifetime, the pilgrimage would be continued, if necessary, in the coffin. Some years before the turn of the millennium, the “Tro Breiz” – albeit in a different form – was revived. In the modern variant, the route is spread over seven years, with one of the pilgrimage destinations visited each year. The prominent seven saints are: + Saint Maclovius: Founder of the diocese of Saint-Malo and patron saint of the city. + Saint Samson: Founder of the diocese of Dol-de-Bretagne and one of the most famous Breton saints. + Saint Briocus: Founder of the diocese of Saint-Brieuc and its monastery. + Saint Tugdual: Founder of the diocese of Tréguier and one of the most important saints in Breton history. + Saint Paul-Aurelianus: Founder of the diocese of Saint-Pol-de-Léon and an important missionary. + Saint Corentin: Founder of the diocese of Quimper and one of the most important Breton saints. + Saint Hervé: A saint of Brittany mentioned in the Vita Hervei.

The city walls are among the most impressive medieval fortifications in Brittany. Their origins date back to the Middle Ages; over the centuries, they were expanded and strengthened to protect the strategically important trading town on the Rance. The almost completely preserved complex includes several towers, gates, and a walkable rampart. With a length of around three kilometers, it still encloses large parts of the historic old town today.

Dinan is almost completely surrounded by a city wall that can be largely walked.

Done on a gravel bike, but the route is more suitable for mountain biking.

Dinan was founded in the 11th century at a strategic location on the Rance River. It developed into a fortified trading and market town during the Middle Ages. In the 14th century, Dinan played an important role in the Hundred Years' War and was repeatedly contested. The town is known for its well-preserved medieval old town with half-timbered houses, city walls, and the Saint-Sauveur Basilica.

The Église Saint-Malo de Dinan is a late Gothic church in the historic center. Construction began around 1490 and continued into the 19th century. Built in the Flamboyant Gothic style, it is made of Breton granite and measures approximately 76.5 meters long, 44.1 meters wide, and 21 meters high. The choir rests on eight pillars, surrounded by side chapels with ornate gables. Particularly noteworthy are the early 20th-century stained-glass windows and the historic organ. The church is dedicated to Saint Malo and is one of the most important Gothic buildings in Brittany.

Particularly worth seeing are the church windows, which tell the history of the region. They are stunningly beautiful on a sunny day.

beautiful road and beautiful view