The beautiful hometown of the saxophone, Dinant
The town of Dinant is located in the Namur province of the Walloon region in Belgium. The town is situated on the edge of a steep plateau, with the entire city built along both banks of the Meuse River. Historically, Dinant was famous for its metal crafts and is also known as the hometown of the saxophone. In his travel notes on Belgium, Victor Hugo described the border town of Dinant as a 'picturesque city.'
The most attractive sights in Dinant are the Collegiate Church of Our Lady and the Dinant Citadel. The Collegiate Church of Our Lady was rebuilt in the 13th century and stands on the banks of the Meuse River, serving as a landmark of Dinant. The Dinant Citadel is located on a 100-meter-high cliff beside the Meuse River. The castle was built in 1051 and rebuilt in the 19th century. From the highest point of the citadel, one can overlook the entire city of Dinant.
In the Middle Ages, Dinant was known for its brass production, and you can see many metal products here, such as the statue of Charles de Gaulle at the Dinant Bridge. Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone, was born here. Besides the picturesque scenery, Dinant is also known as the land of the saxophone. In Dinant, the influence of the saxophone and Adolphe Sax can be seen everywhere. Colorful saxophone models stand on both sides of the Charles de Gaulle Bridge in the city center. The birthplace of Adolphe Sax, the 'Maison de Sax,' is located on Sax Street and has now become a small museum that records the 'Sax story' of the town of Dinant.