Dinard

The most elegant resort town on this stretch of the Brittany coast, Dinard enjoys a picture-book perch on the Rance Estuary opposite the walled town of St-Malo. Toward the end of the 19th century, when sea air became a fashionable "cure," the English aristocracy arrived en masse. As a result, what started out as a small fishing port soon became a seaside mecca with lavish Belle Époque villas (more than 400 still dot the town and shoreline), grand hotels, and a bustling casino. Although a number of modern establishments punctuate the landscape, Dinard still retains something of an Edwardian tone. The town’s natural beauty remains intact, too: make the most it by strolling along the narrow promenade or heading down to the Pointe de la Vicomté, at Dinard’s southern tip, where the cliffs offer panoramic views across the Baie du Prieuré and Rance Estuary.