This ancient, riverside port town is Brittany’s finest, an hour south of Mont St. Michele, its well worth an overnight stay on your way to the Loire Valley  Dinan emulates the typical Breton lifestyle and opens up the window into this region’s more typical rural French lifestyles a little more.  I enjoyed wandering through the back streets exploring the neighborhood down the steep hill to the river as much as the upper dreamlike streets and 600 year old castle.  This little town is almost 2 separate villages separated by the distance to the water because it is so steep.  The lower half sits on the riverfront harbor, and the upper looms over the river on top of the hill.For some reason it fascinates me that there is sea access so far inland and this town seems to somehow be on the ocean, an hour inland!  I just love Dinan and its people, and recommend staying at least half a day to check it out if you find yourself in Brittany.