Givet to Dinant

23 kms, 4 locks

Magnificent!  If we thought the last couple of days had great scenery – that was nothing compared to what we saw today.

But I am running ahead of myself.

We woke to brilliant sunshine – so bright it woke us up way earlier than intended!  But by 8.00, when I went to the boulangerie, the last time I’ll be doing that in France, to buy the obligatory baguette plus two  Escargots de Raisins (before leaving France you have to treat yourselves!), the clouds were closing in and by the time we left at 10.00 a few splats of rain were pattering around us.

It was just the most spectacular 4 hour cruise. 
Less than half an hour after setting off we saw the first commercial barge for 2 weeks – we love the big commercials and have missed them - so I got very excited when we saw one tied up to a quay and loading.

Soon after the first lock we crossed the border from France into Belgium  Bye bye France,we loved you and will be back soon.  
The scenery became more dramatic

The river has become very wide.  The lock is off-set to the left in a narrow lock-cut while the mighty river is tamed by a huge barrage across its width

As we exit the lock we see another pleasure cruiser waiting to enter

Dramatic rocky cliffs....

... with rock climbers doing what they do best

Meanwhile on the left a huge chateau appeared, and a commercial barge

The old and the new, the old Chateau de Freyr and a modern barge

The Chateau de Freyr even has a dock on the river

and extensive grounds and a large folly 

Another imposing chateau

and some smaller properties,but probably still worth a few €€€

A hollow rock,with a tunnel entrance at road level and holes further up

Another old/new juxtaposition - the old church in the background and the modern hydraulic rams that control the barrage 

Approaching Dinant

The dramatic pinnacle of the Rocher Bayard

Houses line the banks: some small...

... and other substantially larger

The Citadel overlooks Dinant

The view from our aft deck: the imposing Citadel on the rocky outcrop and the Cathedral de Notre Dame 

We tied up at a pontoon with 3 other pleasure cruisers, but also shared with large trip boats.  All afternoon their passengers trooped past our boat, making lots of noise, and posing alongside our boat for a photo op, usually leaning on the railings, and one more adventurous and ignorant soul even stepped on board – but stepped off very quickly when Ian appeared and told him to find somewhere else to go in not very polite terms.

A view of the pontoon from the bridge

As I set off for  a walk around the town the heavens opened and I had to dash back across the bridge to the boat for some rain gear.   Then set of again to explore.

The bridge, which was rebuilt after the WW2, is dedicated to General de Gaulle who was injured while fighting on the bridge in August 1914

The bridge is lined with enormous saxophones

Inside the imposing Cathedral

You can walk up to the Citadel - no, I didn't.

Adolphe Sax,who invented the saxophone in 1845, was born here in 1814.  This life size statue sits on a bench outside the house where he lived, which is now a museum - small but informative and very interesting.

 This is a vibrant town, lots of activity, which also means lots of noise but that’s just par for the course.  Fortunately, the activity is on the other side of the river – and we have a glorious view of the flood lit citadel.