Dinant, Belgium
There are many places in Belgium which get all the attention - Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent - but one of the shining stars of this small country is Dinant in the Sourthern part of the Walloon Region. Southern Belgium is full of rolling hills and lush forests with trees sparkling with personality. We drove in from the South after having spent several days in nearby Switzerland and were impressed immediately by the quick change in the landscape. The countryside went from small hills to large, rolling mountains; from pasture to thick wooded areas, and from dry lands to rivers running through each valley.
The Cathedral
One of the main attractions of Dinant is it's 13th Century Cathedral, which can be seen in the image above. The Cathedral appears to be built into the side of the mountain itself. It is undergoing renovations, but seems to have a held up rather well over the centuries.
The face of the building presents in creamy ivory and soot grey. It places, hints of gold streak down the walls, likely caused by the slow deterioration of some stone or another used in the construction. The longer one looks at the building, the more intricate the details appear. This type of construction would be a massive undertaking today, with modern technology and convenience. To have completed it in the 13th century is a mind-boggling concept.
The Town
Dinant is full of old buildings, heavy with propriety, which seem to say we can withstand anything. The buildings are full of grace and charm, and often covered in the ivy of the season. A proud country, the Belgium flag flies at every opportunity. Statues speckle the old town, looking down from courtyards and across plazas, inviting visitors to come just a little bit closer to admire the handiwork.
A mix of traditionalism and modernism is visible throughout the city, with historic buildings celebrating the citizenry through large murals like those above. The inventor of the saxopohone, Adolphe Sax, was said to have been from Dinant, and the town makes a point to share that knowledge with everyone. Images and statues of saxophones are ubiquitous throughout the city, and there is even a life-size statue of Adolphe sitting on a bench downtown.
Dinant Heritage
The celebration of traditional heritage continues with the bas relief depicted on buildings throughout Dinant. The lion is a symbol which has been associated with Dinant's coat of arms as far back as 1399, according to this site. To see such pride throughout a city is impressive. It suggests a feeling of community and history rather than individuality.
There were small touches hearkening back to the medieval days as well, such as this metal figure projecting from the side of a building. There were a series of them, all cast from the same mold, and set about hip high into the wall. They look as though they were designed to hold something, a bag perhaps, or tie a horse to while you ran errands around town. It looks as though they are hinged, allowing them to fold flat, so perhaps they were used to hold weapons at the ready or swords even...but who would leave their sword on the side of a building?
The countryside around Dinant boasts impressive trees, thick and ancient. Join me next time for a walk through the woods. In the meantime, find me at Travel Life Services to book your own exploration of a hidden gem.
Happy Travels!
Jennifer
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Animation By @zord189