Dinant, town in Dinant municipality, Belgium
Dinant is a town on the banks of the Meuse River in Belgium, nestled between high cliffs and the water's edge. The center features colorful houses with red, yellow and orange facades, narrow streets and old churches, while far above on a rocky outcrop, a medieval citadel overlooks the river.
The town was founded over 1,000 years ago on an easily defendable rocky hill, and the citadel was built in the 11th century as a strategic fortress against invaders. In the 19th century, Adolphe Sax, born here, sparked a worldwide musical revolution with his invention of the saxophone.
The town expresses its musical heritage through its connection to Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone, visible throughout the streets in sculptures and decorations. This identity shapes the local character, especially on the colorful Pont Charles de Gaulle, where saxophone sculptures represent different countries and reveal the town's cultural openness.
The citadel is easy to reach by car or cable car, with free parking available outside the fortress. The town center is walkable on foot and arriving by train is practical, as the station sits in the center and the cable car takes you up the hill.
Inside the citadel, visitors can walk through recreated World War One trenches and experience a simulated bunker interior with a tilted floor that mimics the sensation of a bomb blast. This immersive experience makes history tangible and emotional, far from typical museum displays.
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