Dinard and the Rance

Golden light skims Dinard’s slate roofs at daybreak and a briny tang rises along the Clair de Lune promenade; here the Rance widens before the tidal power plant that began operating in 1966. You’ll spot Belle Époque villas on Pointe de la Malouine, striped beach huts on Plage de l’Écluse, and across the channel, Saint-Malo’s walled town just 2.5 km away. Upstream, Dinan’s 13th‑century ramparts sit above the river port, linked today by a rails‑to‑trails greenway. With tidal ranges hitting 12 m in the bay, the scenery literally resets every few hours.

Collected from your Saint-Malo hotel, you ride in a Mercedes with your dedicated driver; the day flexes around the tide. First Dinard, then a 15‑minute hop to the Rance Tidal Power Station for estuary views, before a 35‑minute run to Dinan for its ramparts and the cobbled Rue du Jerzual. Take your time over a coffee by the slipway, sample oysters in Saint-Suliac, while parking and access are handled for you. The vehicle stays at your disposal, so timings shift with your plans and the weather.