Helloooo everyone! Today the ship is at port in Saint Malo, France and I and 25 other passengers have decided on Dinan as our destination of the day! Something told me it was not going to be as easy taking photos as it is on most of our vacations and I can see right off the bat that I was right. I was forever lagging behind the group to take pictures and then scurrying like a mad woman to catch up! So, I finally pulled out my IPhone and started clicking away. Click and run………click and run………When our guide finally gave us time on our own, most of the group went for wine or cider (very popular in this region) but, I back-tracked to get DOOR photos!

Dinan is set high on the hill, behind a defensive wall, overlooking the River Rance. The historic old town features all the buildings from the 1300’s that did not burn down. It was very charming! I Leaving the ramparts we walked into the town,  first to see the Saint Savior Basilica, built in 1130.

Around the year 1112, a lord of Dinan, Rivallon Le Roux , had gone to the Crusades in Palestine.

He fought with bravery. 
In a very violent battle, he was taken prisoner by the Saracens. 
He vowed to build a church if he saw Dinan, 
a church dedicated to the Holy Trinity and the Holy Savior. 
What happened, he came back …

Because the Basilica was here, there were monks here and there was a large village market. The town grew to be very prosperous and needed two entry ways…… one for the villagers to enter, and another for the carts with goods to come and go.

While the group stopped to replenish their parched throats in cafes on the town square and other various establishments around the village, I ventured around looking for more DOORS!

And some of the group stopped here……….

But, I ventured down this path……

And found the red Doors…..

and this red door…..

and the blue door…….

And le Mostroquet………..

and the door of Chez la Mere Pourcel……..

and down this little lane…….

I ended up at the meeting place for the day’s big bike race………..stay out of the way, they are closing off the streets, so let’s go!

So back to the bus……say goodbye cobblestones!

I learned so much about Dinan and will share that in another post, next Monday, for Jo’s Monday Walks .  So, in the meantime look at all the other door posts for Thursday Doors by Norm HERE! See you next week in another French Village! Auvoir