Dinan and the Rance valley

Underfoot, the smooth cobbles of Rue du Jerzual crunch lightly and catch the pale glow of 15th‑century timber frames. Perched above the Rance, Dinan still carries 2.7 km of ramparts, the Romanesque details of Saint‑Saviour Basilica, and a riverside port with medieval roots. It’s a 50‑minute run from Rennes, quick enough to start in the upper town, then wind down to the quay. A stop by the Clock Tower, a glance into a goldsmith’s or illuminator’s workshop, and the sieges of 1357 and 1487 feel suddenly close.

Pick‑up at your Rennes hotel at the agreed time: spacious Mercedes, a dedicated driver who knows the shortcuts and discreet parking spots. You explore while he drives; snack on a galette‑saucisse by the port, then meet again in Léhon, a former Benedictine priory 2 km away, to follow the quiet banks toward the Rance Tidal Power Station, completed in 1966. In Dinan, your pace is set with care—workshop stop, the Grands Fossés overlook, a photo at the old stone bridge—before an easy ride back with shopping and bags comfortably onboard.