Dinan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Commune of Dinan |
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| Dinan | ||
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| Château de Dinan | ||
| Location | ||
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| Coordinates | ||
| Administration | ||
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| Country | France | |
| Region | Bretagne | |
| Department | Côtes-d'Armor (sous-préfecture) | |
| Arrondissement | Dinan | |
| Canton | Chief town of 2 cantons | |
| Intercommunality | C.C. de Dinan | |
| Mayor | René Benoît (2001-2008) |
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| Statistics | ||
| Elevation | 7 m–92 m | |
| Land area¹ | 3.98 km² | |
| Population² (1999) |
10,907 | |
| - Density | 2,740/km² (1999) | |
| Miscellaneous | ||
| INSEE/Postal code | 22050/ 22100 | |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | ||
| 2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) only counted once. | ||
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Dinan (Breton: Dinan, Gallo: Dinan) is a walled Breton town and a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor département, France.[1]
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[edit] Geography and natural features
Its geographical setting is exceptional. Instead of nestling on the valley floor like Morlaix, most urban development has been on the hillside, overlooking the river Rance. This river has moderate turbidity and its brownish water is somewhat low in velocity due to the slight gradient of the watercourse; pH levels have been measured at 8.13[2] within the city of Dinan and electrical conductivity of the waters have tested at 33 micro-siemens per centimetre. In the centre of Dinan the Rance summer flows are typically in the range of 500 cubic feet per second.
[edit] Attractions
Major historical attractions include the Jacobins Theatre dating from 1224, the flamboyant Gothic St Malo's Church, the Romanesque St Saviour's Basilica, Duchess Anne's Tower and the Château de Dinan.
A major highlight in the calendar is Dinan's Fête des Remparts. The town is transformed with decoration and many locals dress up in medieval garb for this two-day festival. It occurs only every other year, which can catch visitors out.
[edit] Demographics
Inhabitants of Dinan are called Dinannais.
As of the census of 1999, the town has a population of 10,907.
[edit] Miscellaneous
Dinan was the birthplace of:
- Charles Pinot Duclos (1704-1772), author
- Yves Guyot (1843-1928), politician and economist
- Auguste Pavie (1846-1925), explorer and diplomat
- Jean Rochefort (born 1930), actor
Dinan was also a favourite place for artists to visit in search of picturesque views. The British artist John Everett Millais lived there as a child. It was also painted by Edward Ward and Horace Tuck among others.
[edit] Gallery
 The Rue du Jerzual is a steep medieval street connecting Dinan to the river below. |
 Statue of Jean de Beaumanoir. |
 Statue of Bertrand Du Guesclin. |
