Ramparts and Wall Walk

What it is

Dinan keeps its medieval wall almost entire: an enclosure of about 2,650 m that encloses some 30 hectares of upper town, with five gates (Brest, Saint-Malo, Jerzual, Saint-Louis and Guichet) and some twenty towers. It was begun by the lords of Dinan in the 13th century, the dukes of Brittany strengthened it in the 14th and 15th centuries, and the largest building campaign was between 1476 and 1488. It has been a listed historic monument since 1886.

It can be seen in two ways: from above, along the stretches of wall walk open to the public, and from below, along the paths that surround it. Together, the two give you the view of the Rance valley, the viaduct and the port.

Which stretches can be walked

• Wall walk at the Jerzual gate. It reopened on 4 July 2026, after five years closed and two of restoration works. It covers nearly a kilometre of restored wall and has the best view of the town and the valley.
• North front. Between the Saint-Malo gate and the Saint-Julien tower there are more than 600 m of restored curtain walls and towers. It has its own hours, from 9:15 to 17:00.
• English garden and the Duchess Anne walk. Behind the basilica of Saint-Sauveur, a landscaped stretch on top of the wall looks out over the Rance valley.

Hours and price

The wall walk is open every day: from April to September from 9:00 to 19:00 and from October to March from 9:00 to 18:00. You enter by the rue Michel or the rue de l'École. Access is free. Some stretches close for restoration work on specific dates: in 2026, the north front between the Saint-Malo gate and the Beaumanoir tower was closed from 27 April to 10 May. Check the town council's notices before going.

The tourist office sells for €0.20 a map with a walking circuit of the walls, which can also be downloaded free from its website, and there are self-guided routes on the Wivisit app. The town council publishes a game booklet for walking the north front as a family.

How long

An hour for the Jerzual wall walk and the English garden. If you go all the way round the enclosure, above and below, allow a good two hours with stops.

With children and with a dog

With children it is a good walk, with towers and gates, but on the high stretches hold their hands. With a pushchair, ask the tourist office which accesses have steps. Dogs are allowed.

Getting there and parking

Everything is in the upper town. For parking, the Jean Monnet car park, at 53 rue Victor Schoelcher, is free all year. The place Duguesclin is a car park except on Thursday mornings, when there is a market. On the street, in July and August you pay from 9:00 to 19:00; it is free at midday, at night, on Sundays and on public holidays.

To round it off

The Jerzual gate opens onto the rue du Jerzual, which goes down to the port. From the Clock Tower you see the upper town and its walls from above. To sleep next to it, the Hôtel Le D'Avaugour has a garden on the ramparts.