I thoroughly enjoyed the first part of this tour at Luxembourg City.
As we drove back to Belgium, I fell asleep on the 1 hour and 45 minute bus ride to Dinant as we traveled the winding forest roads of the Ardennes.
When I awoke and I saw Dinant, I couldn’t believe my eyes.
Review: Luxembourg And Dinant Tour – Part II – Dinant [Expedia] (From Brussels, Belgium)
Editor’s Note: This post is part of my ongoing Travel Series on Europe. Click here for more posts on this European trip including France, United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg.
About The Luxembourg And Dinant Tour – Part II – Dinant [Expedia] (From Brussels, Belgium)
The tour I booked was the “Luxembourg & Dinant Full-Day Tour – The Ardennes”.
The visit to Luxembourg was the reason I booked this particular tour. The all-day tour would travel 2 countries in 1 day and was an affordable way for me to see Luxembourg in the limited time I had.
Although I had never heard of Dinant, I knew the Ardennes was a forested region in Europe perhaps best known for that battles that happened there, including both the “Battle of France” and the “Battle of the Bulge”.
Click here for the first half of this tour review: Luxembourg And Dinant Tour – Part I – Luxembourg [Expedia] (From Brussels, Belgium)
The Village Of Dinant
Although the first written mention of Dinant is believed to be from the 7th century CE, the region is thought to have been inhabited by Neolithic tribes, Celts, and Romans much further into antiquity.
The name “Dinant” roughly translates to “Divine Valley”.
Dinant is the home of the quintessential Belgian Beer, “Leffe”, as well as the home of Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the Saxophone.
Tour Stop #1: The Walk From Meuse River To Notre Dame de Dinant
When I awoke from the bus ride from Luxembourg, I couldn’t believe it.
Dinant was one of the most beautiful villages I had even seen with my own eyes.
The bus parked along the banks of the Meuse River on Boulevard Leon Sasserath, and we were let out to meet our guide before walking the town toward the Notre Dame de Dinant.
The Meuse River
Boulevard Leon Sasserath
La Clepsydre de Monsieur Sax (Mr Sax’s Water Clock) at the Hôtel de Ville
The Citadel of Dinant sits on the hill in front of us
Dinant is famous for these [rock-hard] cookies called “Couque de Dinant”. Eat at your won risk!
Follow the footprints for tourists
Collégiale Notre-Dame
Tour Stop #2: The Walk From Notre Dame de Dinant To The Saxophone Museum (Via Rue Adolphe Sax)
From the Church, we walked north along Rue Adolphe Sax to the Saxophone Museum.
Charles de Gaulle Bridge
Dinant Citadel
The Saxophone Museum
Mr. Sax himself still sits in front of the Museum.
The house where Mr. Sax lived
Tour Stop #3: The Walk From The Saxophone Museum To The Saxophone Monument (Via Rue Adolphe Sax)
From the Sax Museum, we continued northward toward the Saxophone Monument.
Sculpture of Notre Dame and the Citadel of Dinant
The Espace Sax
The Saxophone Monument
Tour Stop #4: The Walk From The Monument Back To Notre Dame Dinant (Via Boulevard Leon Sasserath)
From the monument, we headed back down to the boardwalk (along the Meuse River), just as the sun was setting.
View from the Boardwalk: Notre Dame, Charles De Gaulle Bridge, River Meuse
Cafe Leffe (30 Minutes Of Free-time)
With the 30 minutes of free time we had left, I wasted no time in heading for Cafe Leffe.
I was pleasantly surprised to find they had several Leffe brews that I had never seen or tried before.
I promptly ordered 3 different varieties and grabbed a table. Just then, my tour guide and two other men from the tour entered the bar as well.
Knowing the tour bus wouldn’t leave without the guide, the three men joined me at my table and we thoroughly enjoyed the perfection of the Leffe beers on tap.
The Bottom-Line Review: Luxembourg And Dinant Tour – Parts I & II – Luxembourg And Dinant [Expedia] (From Brussels, Belgium)
Both parts of this tour, Luxembourg City and Dinant, were amazing.
I wasn’t expecting much for a day-trip from Brussels, but what I got was one of the best travel days of my life.
Luxembourg was absolutely wonderful, it was well-guided, well-paced, and I loved the time on my own to explore the area on the river.
Likewise, Dinant was stunning. It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. I wish we would have had time to visit the Citadel on the hill, but the beers at Cafe Leffe more than made up for it.
Final Review: Highly Recommended! An absolutely incredible full-day tour that you really shouldn’t miss.
