Estate Agent Dinard France

Dinard is a coastal town located at the mouth of the Rance Estuary opposite the port town of St Malo in Brittany.

Brittany has been a long standing favourite with British holiday makers, and it is not surprising to find, therefore, that Dinard's development through the years has been closely linked to both British holiday makers and those who settled more permanently in the area.

Originally part of the small parish town of Saint-Énogat, Dinard was originally nothing more than a small fishing village. Sheltered by imposing promontories to either side the beach in the centre (Plage de l'Ecluse) was a sheltered haven from which fishermen could set out. In fact it was these promontories which first brought prestige and wealth to Dinard as their position overlooking the bay towards St Malo enabled wealthy merchants from that town to build imposing Villas away from the dirt and smell of the port while retaining the ability to over look their ships and businesses.

The development of the town continued apace when, towards the latter part of the 19th century, Dinard became a popular destination for well heeled British aristocrats and celebrities who invested great sums of money to build magnificent gothic style villas around the town, more than 400 of which still survive to this day as does the 'grand hotel' which remains Dinard's premier hotel.

With the growth of the importance of the area around the Plage de l'Ecluse, the original name of the town was changed from Saint-Énogat to Dinard-Saint-Énogat in 1879. This development continued until in 1921 the town was formally renamed to Dinard at which point Saint-Énogat became the western suburb of the town.

Today Dinard retains its popularity with French holiday makers who view the town as "Tres British". For the British, however, Dinard is very definitely 'all French' although it does have a unique charm.

Dinard is very definitely not a resort for those seeking a 'modern' beech holiday. Generally it is very reserved and will suite people seeking a relaxing, low pace holiday rather than those seeking adrenalin filled activities and parties until the sun comes up.

Dinard Golf course was designed and build by Tom Dunn, a Scottish architect, in 1897 making it the second oldest course in France (Pau Golf Club was founded in 1856).

Originally conceived and founded by a group of British residents (mainly ex military men and their families) living in the nearby town of Dinard, Dinard Golf Club owes its existence to British army officers who, having returned from India and Egypt, decided to settle on the Emerald coast. Once established in the area they began to organise clubs to follow their favourite pursuits. Thus Dinard is able to boast the first tennis club in France, were early pioneers in the development of a formal sailing club and of course, the golf club.

As golf requires a significantly larger 'pitch' than most sports, the group searched for some time for a suitable venue. Eventually they settled on an area of some 50 hectares of land a little to the west of Dinard near the small village of Saint-Briac-sur-Mer. The course is what we now think of as a typical links course being almost entirely built on broom and gorse covered dunes ... with many holes enjoying spectacular sea views along the Emerald Coast.

Dinard golf course is often described as challenging. Although fairly small by some standards, the exposed position means that the wind can play a major factor in the outcome. Keeping the ball low and staying away from the bunkers is the key to success.

We are an independent, family run estate agency with offices located in central Dinard, on the main market square.

Our estate agency specialises in properties within the local area comprising Dinard, St Malo and inland along the Rance.

With the ferry port of St Malo and Dinard International Airport close by, the area enjoys very good transport links to and from the uk which has encourage the continuation of Dinard's long established popularity with the British.

Most peoples first experience of Dinard is for a holiday, probably in the summer.

Each year thousands of toursists, and many of those extended families spanning several generations, descend upon the town in July and August to enjoy the child friendly sandy beaches, the restaurants (many of which showcase local seafood specialities), to take in the sea air or simply to relay and spend quality time with family and friends.

Dinard has the reputation of being a quiet, family friendly resort in the summer. There are many activities for families including :

• The Beach : Dinard has 3 beaches, but the central beach is by far the most popular and it is there that most of the childrens clubs and acrtivities take place. In the summer there are football and volleyball competitions which are opened to all. The plage de l'ecluse has a very gently sloping beach, so it is particularly safe for young children.
• The rocks : To the side of the plage de l'ecluse, and along most of the coastal paths, are igneous rocks and rock pools. Children love to play in these rocks looking for crabs or "fishing" and may families find themselves spending long hours in the pursuite of various wildlife in these rock pools.
• The coastal path : A favorite with visitors young and old, the path around the coast runs from central dinard in both directions for may kilometers. The path is built very near the sea in many places and can be very exciting at high tide when waves crash across the path and sometimes submerge it entirely !
• Local attractions : The aquarium at St Malo, the old town of St Malo, Dinan, Mont St Michel, St Briac sur mer and many other attraction are within a short drive.
• Family Dining : Most restaurants will be full with large family groups in the summer. Many restaurants have outside eating areas and with the local seafood a favourite amongst visitors, many hours can be spent sitting, eating anf watching the world go by.
• Spectacles : Several times in July and August the town is innundated with people coming to see the fire work displays on the beach. The dates of these vary depending upon the low tides each year, but thousands and thousands of people from all o fthe local area descend on the town to watch the displays which are truly worth the efort to stay up and watch ! If you are in town on one of these evenings ... make sure that you reserve a table at your favorite restaurant as getting a table otherwise can be very difficult.

Dinard remains a very popular summer destination and this looks set to continue into the future. Whilst it generally does not have the hot weather associated with the french riviera, it does have a very pleasant climate which is especially appealing to those who do not want extreme heat, or those families with younger children who want to enjoy playing on the beach and in the sea without having to cover up or hide from the hottest parts of the day.

Whilst the population of the town does increase dramatically during the summer months, for the rest of the year the town remains a wonderful place to visit and to live. The Weekly markets in the large market square continue all year around, there are two secondary schools in the town as well as a very good central sports center which is home to many local clubs including basketball and badminton.

Water based sports such as Sailing or wind surfing are popular passtimes and most children spend some time on the water as part of their school corriculum. The 50m swimming pool located next to the beach is used by all of the schools during the year and also has a swimming club. There is also a fencing club in the town as well as dance and theatre groups.

Most restaurants are open year round. The cinema is a popular attraction and the annual film festival attracts many visitos. There is also a theatre and the casino frequently has exhibitions.