Dinard, the Nice of the North

True jewel of the Emerald Coast, Dinard is a city rich in art and history. More chic than nearby Saint-Malo, it conquers visitors with its promenades, casinos and culture, so much so that it has been nicknamed the "Nice of the North". In 1880 Dinard became one of the most important seaside resorts in France with the first bathing establishments and some large hotels with Art Nouveau architecture on the beach. Vacations in Dinard will take you back in time, in a town along whose picturesque coastline there are elegant villas, evidence of the splendor lived in its best days. Founded as a small port from which the terre-neuvas departed, that is, the fishermen who every year reached the waters off the Canadian island of Newfoundland in search of cod, in the nineteenth century Dinard became the favorite resort of the English aristocracy.

Start your visit to Dinard at Pointe du Moulinet and take a stroll along the lush Promenade du Clair-de-Lune, which is to the town what the Promenade des Anglais is to Nice. Among the supple palms and the Atlas cedars you can admire a breathtaking landscape that becomes even more romantic when, in summer, it is illuminated by the soft night lights. At lunchtime, stop at one of the excellent seafood restaurants overlooking the sea and continue your exploration. Cross the Bec de la Vallée water slide and reach the beach of l'Écluse, right in the heart of the city. Here you'll find stores to do a little shopping, delicious ice cream parlors and even an elegant casino to try your luck.

Then make a stop at Pointe de la Malouine, which offers fantastic views of the Corsair town of Saint-Malo and the Chausey Islands, walking along the beach or through the streets on which luxurious Belle Époque villas open up.