Tour de l'Horloge

The clock tower rises above Place des Merciers in the heart of the old town and serves as one of Dinan's most recognisable landmarks. It stands 23 metres high and can be climbed for the best views over the tightly packed rooftops of the medieval centre. The bell donated by Duchess Anne of Brittany in 1507 still hangs at the top.

The tower sits in Place des Merciers, which along with the adjacent Place des Cordeliers forms the most picturesque square in the upper town — ringed with 15th-century half-timbered buildings and a few cafe tables that make for a good rest stop.

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A story
The clock tower was built in the 15th century and the bell inside it was paid for by Duchess Anne of Brittany herself, who donated it to the town in 1507. It still rings the hours today. Anne was the last independent Duchess of Brittany and a figure of considerable political significance — twice Queen of France through marriage — and her donation of the bell was a gesture of prestige that Dinan was glad to accept.