Laura et Seb, les Globe blogueurs
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Slow travel with the family
A day filled with surprises:
3 Unusual and Historic houses in Dinant
The town of Dinant is nestled on the banks of the river Meuse, and the best way to discover Dinant is to take a relaxed stroll around town and visit a few of its historic buildings. We visited 3 of them and made some surprising discoveries. Let’s take you along for an unusual day out in Dinant.
4 min reading
Visiting the Mosan Medieval Heritage Centre
Our journey starts in Bouvignes, a neighbouring village. We are expected in a historic dwelling known as the “Maison espagnole” (Spanish house). The building is listed as “Exceptional Walloon Heritage” since 2008 and houses the Mosan Medieval Heritage Centre. Spread out over several floors we will dive into medieval traditions and crafts such as “dinanderie” (the French term for copper work), for which Bouvignes and Dinant were renowned.
The Mosan Medieval Heritage Centre - L. Le Guen
The museum draws parallels between war techniques and the evolution of architecture
The modern-day scenography is dotted with several interactive activities and games that grab children’s attention. Our son decides to become an architect and proceeds to piece together the castle and bridges using the wooden parts. A bit further along, he is fascinated by the medieval weapons; a gigantic sword, a crossbow and a catapult. The museum draws parallels between war techniques and the evolution of architecture, it really is enlightening! Models and installations provide different levels of meaning and in doing so, the museum manages to captivate both young and old alike.
Becoming a medieval detective
To add a bit of spice to the visit and please our son, we decide to get hold of the visitor’s booklet “Carrying out an investigation”. Our mission consists of finding objects in the museum and solving a number of entertaining challenges (puzzle, drawings, mazes…). When accompanied, this activity is accessible to children from the age of 5. It’s a great aid to experience the museum visit as a family. Also, we love games, so we jump at the chance to play. Hélio enjoys all of the museum’s fun activities with gay abandon. One of his favourites is the interactive terminal where he needs to reposition the different parts of a town on a map.
The museum also has a booklet with an investigation for older children, we really have to come back and try it out!
Before we head for the next historic house, we make a short detour so we can visit the ruins of the Crèvecoeur fortified castle affording uninterrupted views on the river Meuse, Bouvignes and Dinant. Once we’ve enjoyed the stunning view, off we go to Adolphe Sax’s house by following the towpath along the Meuse!
The activities and reconstitutions in the Mosan Medieval Heritage Centre - L. Le Guen
In Adolphe Sax’s resonant universe
While we roam the streets of Dinant, our 4-year old son Hélio is surprised to come across dozens of sculptures of brightly-coloured saxophones. The reason for this colourful display? The inventor of the saxophone, Adolpe Sax, was born in Dinant. The town is obviously proud of this, and never passes a chance to sing the inventor’s praises. We are about to discover everything there is to know about this extraordinary character in Adolphe Sax’s house. It is located in the town centre and is entirely devoted to this creative genius hailing from Dinant. In a subdued setting, we discover all about the roots of this instrument maker’s son. Thanks to his father’s skills and his own natural gift for music Adolph Sax invented several instruments and improved quite a few others.
Adolphe Sax’ experimental musical journey is wonderfully staged in the museum. As we leave, Hélio decides to spot everything that has a link with saxophones on the way back; he wants to show the many saxophones to this grandfather who is an enthusiastic saxophone player.
A truly singular place, in a class of its own
The House of Pataphony: truly unique and unconventional !
We finish our day in Dinant by a visit to a totally unique place that is in a class of its own : the House of Pataphony. Here, they celebrate the art of building instruments from recycled materials; this is known as experimental lute making or experimental instrument making.
As soon as we set foot in the first room, we are filled with wonder by the unusual instruments around us. We surrounded by a veritable bric-a-brac of PVC tubes, basins, nails, and other intriguing knickknacks…The guide sounds a quaint-looking instrument the “contrebassin”, a contrabass made with…yes, you guessed right; a basin! As soon as we hear the first notes fill the room, our faces take on an amazed expression…
Then, a platter with dozens of instruments built with recycled tubes take us for a journey around the world. Their surreal sounds mimic Japanese, Scottish melodies and even Fula music to perfection. It is so remarkable, that our son is totally gobsmacked…But not for long, he soon turns to us and whispers in awe “Wow, that man is good”!
Once we’ve been given an introduction to the different types of musical instruments (wind, chord, percussion), the children are invited to give a concert with a motley crew of eccentric flutes. No need to blow into the flutes to make music; all you need to do is press the pear shaped inflating bulbs. The children are absolutely delighted by the quirky instruments.
A different take on lute making in the House of Pataphony - L. Le Guen
The grand finale: a whimsical concert
But the quirky house has more surprises in store… There are 4 other rooms where we will be immersed in a totally novel and imaginary world and are invited to take part in collective concerts led by a very unorthodox conductor. In Aqualobia, droppers drip drop and beat a slow tempo while we activate tubes with all kinds of different spouts and nozzles crisscrossing a huge bathtub filled to the brim with water. The conductor hands each of us an instrument and a few moments later, the rooms is vibrating with music. A moment of pure whimsy and musical poetry…
But there is more magic to come with a stone table that makes music thanks to the percussions of a bouncing ball. Playing while making music, our son can’t believe his eyes…or ears! As for us, we are entranced by the strange-looking piano made in Pataphony: it’s made with empty sauerkraut tins, wine bottles, flasks and flower pots. I did tell you: this place is totally out of this world!
The final note in our surprising visit is a metallic concert in the room devoted to percussions. We learn to master the huge “metalophone” and the “rimophone” and other iron rods and bars for a whimsical and unusual concert that reflects the soul of the strange and musical land of Pataphony….
Our day in Dinant was the incontrovertible proof that sometimes you need to try new experiences, do something you wouldn’t ordinarily do and in so doing discover different worlds and see a town from a totally different angle.
By the way, Dinant boasts another renowned location:The Maison Leffe ! It is entirely devoted to the world famous beer and is definitely worth a visit, although it is a less family-oriented experience.
Enjoy this experience
If you decide to walk to Dinant from Bouvignes via the towpath, you will enjoy a lovely 2km walk along the river Meuse. Allow approximately to visit the ruins of Crèvecoeur Castle from the Mosan Medieval Heritage Centre.
Maison du patrimoine médiéval mosan (Mosan Medieval Heritage Centre)
Place du Bailliage 16, 5500 Dinant, Belgium
Open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 18:00, from 1 April to 31 October, and till 17:00 the rest of the year.
https://www.mpmm.be/
Maison Adolphe Sax
Rue Adolphe Sax 37, 5500 Dinant, Belgium
Free entrance – Open all year round – 7 days a week, from 9:00 to 19:00
http://sax.dinant.be
Maison de la Pataphonie (House of Pataphony)
Rue en Rhée 51, 5500 Dinant, Belgium
Open on Sundays, Public Holidays and school holidays, from 14:00 to 16:00. Only on reservation.
https://www.pataphonie.be/
Our day in Dinant was the incontrovertible proof that sometimes you need to try new experiences, do something you wouldn’t ordinarily do and in so doing discover different worlds and see a town from a totally different angle.