DINANT, BELGIUM

THE TOWN OF DINANT IS IN THE PROVINCE OF NAMUR WHICH IS SOUTH OF WHERE WE LIVE.  DRIVING SOUTH WE FIRST GO THROUGH THE FLAT LANDSCAPE OF CENTRAL BELGIUM AND THEN YOU START TO SEE THE ROLLING HILLS AND RIDGES THAT FORM THE ARDENNES MOUNTAIN RANGE.  WE DROVE DOWN INTO THE VALLEY WHERE DINANT IS LOCATED RIGHT ALONG THE MEUSE RIVER.  A BEAUTIFUL LOCATION.  THE TOWN WAS MUCH BIGGER THAN I EXPECTED.

FIRST THING WE SAW AS WE CAME INTO TOWN WAS THIS GREAT ROCK FORMATION.  THE FORMATION IS SAID TO BE MADE BY THE MIGHTY KICK FROM A BAYARD HORSE, WHICH IS A MAGIC BAY HORSE IN FRENCH STORIES THAT CAN ADJUST IT'S SIZE TO THE SIZE OF IT'S RIDERS.  

THE RIVER MEUSE

THIS IS THE COLLEGIATE CHURCH OF NOTRE DAME (NOW KNOWN AS THE COLLEGIATE CHURCH OF OUR LADY).  IT IS LCOATED AT THE BASE OF A HUGE CLIFF IN THE CITY OF DINANT, BELGIUM.  THIS ISN'T THE FIRST CHURCH TO BE BUILT ON THIS SITE.  THE FIRST CHURCH WAS BUILT HERE IN 934.  IN 1228 THAT CHURCH WAS DESTROYED WHEN THE CLIFF BEHIND IT COLLAPSED, LEAVING JUST THE FRONT DOOR STANDING.  THE CHURCH WAS THEN REBUILT IN 1472.  THE BULBOUS ROOF WAS ADDED IN 1566.

THE CHURCH WAS AGAIN DESTROYED IN AUGUST OF 1914 WHEN THE GERMANS INVADED THE CITY IN A HORRIBLE BLOODY MASSACRE WHICH KILLED 10% OF THE POPULATION; INCLUDING WOMEN AND CHILDREN.  MORE DAMAGE WAS INFLICTED ON THE CHURCH DURING WORLD WAR II.

WOODEN/PLASTER SCULPTURES - DATING TO 1740s

THE INTERIOR HAS A GREENISH GLOW TO IT DUE TO THE COLOR OF THE GLASS WINDOWS

THIS STAINED GLASS WINDOW IS HUGE AND UNBELIEVABLY DETAILED WITH STORIES OF THE BIBLE.

AN UNUSUAL MODERN STYLE STAINED GLASS 

YOU CAN SEE THE CLIFF DIRECTLY BEHIND THE CHURCH.  THE CITIDEL IS AT THE TOP.

A GREAT VIEW OF THE CITADEL BEHIND THE CHURCH;  (ACCESS TO THE CITADEL IS EITHER VIA CABLE CAR RIDE OR 408 STEPS)

TWO OF THE THREE STAINED GLASS WINDOWS ARE BUILT RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE CLIFF SO NO LIGHT CAN GET THROUGH.   THEY MAY LIGHT THEM UP AT NIGHT OR OTHER TIMES OF DAY IN ORDER TO SEE THEM BUT WHEN WE WERE THERE IT WAS DARK

THIS IS DURING WW1.  NOTICE THE BRIDGE THAT IS DESTROYED.  THAT WAS ACTUALLY DONE BY LOCAL TROOPS TO KEEP THE GERMANS AT BAY BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE GERMANS STILL GOT TO THEM.  THE TOWN REALLY TOOK A BEATING DURING THE WAR.