Dinant, on the river Meuse

Dinant is an idyllic river-side town in the Ardennes, to the south of Belgium.

Southern Belgium is a hilly area. Numerous rivers criss-cross the landscape and often being the seat of atleast one or two main cities of the region.



The city lies along the length of river Meuse. The city caught my fancy with its inherent simplicity, er.. kuttiness (tamil for small). It was all that was visible in front of me, across the river. A towering cathedral under back drop of the citadel at the riverside, made for an impressive view.



The citadel is strategically located on hill top accessible from a side through bridge across river Meuse. In earlier times, there was only 1 bridge every 15-20kms, and citadal assumed all important position in the war, overlooking the bridge. Many a gruelling battles have been fought to wrest the citadel from the enemy.





There are 3 ways to reach citadel: the ropeway, the roadway and the stairs. We decided to take the ropeway in the benfit of time. In citadel a guide, an elderly man who explained the history in French, took us through the different parts of the citadel.




City top view, with a clear view of the connecting bridge. Try going back in time...imagine yourself holding a gun keeping a hawk-eye on goings on across the river...




Poor lives, who had to suffer the fate.. There was also a chopper near by (not in pic) that was used to chop off hands of criminals whose offence was lighter.



It was a lucky strike. We landed on the day, on which there was some boating even going on. People thronged the bridge, and river side to watch boaters with their boats in different constumes. It didn't seem to be a racy, but some sort of boat-fancy-dress-competition. At the end of the day, a function was organized to give the adjugate the best of the lot.



Belgium is famous for mussels. It must be one of the favourite dishes of the land, and Dinant seemed to be serving only mussels for the dinner. We gave it a try.. Hmm.. not bad...