Basilica of Saint-Sauveur

The Basilica of Saint-Sauveur is a curious and beautiful church that mixes Romanesque (12th century) and Gothic (15th century) construction in a way that works surprisingly well. The Romanesque south portal is the oldest part — its carved capitals are weathered but still detailed — while the Gothic north side is taller and more elaborate. The result is a building that grew over three hundred years and shows every stage of it.

Inside, the light is good and the atmosphere quiet. The reliquary said to contain Bertrand du Guesclin's heart sits in the north transept. Du Guesclin is a local hero in this part of Brittany; his bronze equestrian statue stands in Place du Guesclin just outside.

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A story
The basilica contains a casket said to hold the heart of Bertrand du Guesclin, the 14th-century Breton knight who became Constable of France and died besieging a castle in the south. His body was buried near Montpellier but his heart was brought back to Dinan — a fitting tribute given that he was born in the region and the town is very much his.