Dinan Educational Service

DISCOVERY OF DINAN

Back to the Middle Ages with the guided tour of Dinan!

Be ready to follow in the footsteps of Bertrand Du Guesclin, the territory's most famous knight. Cataclop, cataclop… You could almost hear the sound of his faithful steed's hooves on the cobblestones of Dinan, the medieval city, so much the decor takes us back to the time of castles.

Do you know what a half-timbered house is? What was the clock tower used for? And what does the Saint-Sauveur Basilica hide…?

On guard knights! Your guide is waiting for you to show you the city's emblematic sites and reveal many secrets about the history of this famous medieval city!

Here are the different themes that can be offered to you :

• Dinan in the Middle Ages (from cycle 2): Dinan was founded in the 11th century on the left bank of the Rance. Very quickly this is abandoned in favor of the rocky plateau. During this visit, students identify the different functions of the city in the Middle Ages.
• Trade in the Middle Ages (from cycle 2): Fairs and markets have shaped the city and marked the architectural landscape of Dinan. During this visit, the students discover the ways of trading in the Middle Ages or the organization of a shop.
• Living and living in a half-timbered house (from cycle 2): The oldest half-timbered houses in Dinan date back to the 15th century. This visit allows you to learn about the constructive technique of half-timbering and to understand the organization of a medieval house. Visit of the Governor's House
• The art of the builders: from Romanesque to Gothic (from cycle 3): Dinan has two parish churches: Saint-Sauveur basilica and Saint-Malo church. Through this visit, the pupils discover the evolutions between the Romanesque style and the Gothic style.
• The fortifications (from cycle 2): The attachment of Dinan to the Duchy of Brittany in 1283 led to the construction of the fortified enclosure of the town. Thanks to this visit, the pupils identify the transformations of the fortifications to respond to the evolutions of the armament. 

DISCOVER DINAN CASTLE

The Château de Dinan, an emblematic building of the medieval city, bears witness to the power and power that the Duke wielded over the city and its inhabitants.

Here are the different themes that can be offered to you :

• The Château de Dinan: Palace of Duke Jean IV (from cycle 2): A veritable princely residence from the end of the Middle Ages, the Château de Dinan was built in the 1380s at the request of the Duke of Brittany Jean IV. The visit introduces students to the role and function of the different rooms of the ducal tower.
• The defenses of the castle (from cycle 2): Consisting of a fortified gate, a residence tower, an artillery tower and a military sheath, the castle of Dinan offers students nearly 4 centuries of history of military architecture.
• The art of the table in the time of Jean IV (from cycle 2): Thanks to the kitchen and the banquet hall, the students go to meet the master chefs and table manners at the end of the 14th century. Discovery of spices and the medieval dresser

DISCOVER THE LEHON ABBEY

Léhon is a "Small City of Character of Brittany" located south of Dinan. It stands out for its charm and authenticity, particularly through its historical and religious heritage.

Founded in the middle of the 9th century, the Benedictine monastery Saint-Magloire de Léhon presents a complete set revealing the spaces necessary for conventual life: church, cloister, refectory, kitchen, dormitory, etc.

Duration: 1h30.

Period: All year on request.

From round 2.

EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS

Since 1986, the City of Dinan has made raising young people's awareness of their living environment one of the key areas of its heritage enhancement policy. Each year, several thousand schoolchildren, from primary school to university, come to discover our city, its landscapes, its districts and its monuments.

The educational workshop is a more practical approach than a thematic visit. It usually accompanies a short field visit. It is a moment of manipulation, of experimentation with educational tools, which helps understanding

some more complex concepts. Classroom interventions are tailored to a specific project. They may consist, depending on the themes, of a presentation in the form of a slideshow or be based on various documents.

cycle 2 & 3 :

• Building a half-timbered house: After having observed the houses of the historic centre, the pupils restore, in volume, the model of a house. Depending on the typologies, the level of difficulty increases. Duration: 2h00
• The art of stained glass: The visit is based on the observation of the renovated stained glass windows of the Saint-Malo church, to understand their function and meaning. The students then color the preparatory cardboard for a stained glass window. Duration: 2h00.
• Gargoyles and medieval bestiaries: During a treasure hunt, the pupils must identify the figures that animate the gargoyles of the Saint-Malo church. In the workshop, they model a clay gargoyle. Duration: 2h00.
• The medieval costume: Thanks to reproductions of illuminations and a collection of medieval-inspired costumes, students discover the shapes, colors and materials that make up medieval clothing. Duration: 2h00 – Château de Dinan.
• Storming the Castle: By observing and making models and reconstructed pieces of armour, students study the evolution of military architecture and armament in the 15th century. Duration: 2h00 – Château de Dinan.

From Cycle 3 : 

• Has your feathers ! Using enlargements of illuminations and reproductions of scribe's tools, students are introduced to the art of calligraphy. Duration: 2h00.

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