As a side trip while in Brussels, we opted for a bus tour to Luxembourg with a stop at the riverside town of Dinant. It was a long day, but someone else was driving as we relaxed and enjoyed views of the countryside scooting by.

We met our tour guide in Brussels alongside Central Station and boarded the bus, setting off for our first stop at Dinant. This town has a sad history of conflict as it sits in a strategic position on the banks of the Meuse River. With its steep cliffs, it is a perfect point for controlling the movement of ships up and down the river. Testament to its importance is a centuries-old fortified Citadel perched high above the town that provides a strategic advantage when it comes to protecting the river. This also made it a target for control as the river runs from France through to the North Sea making it a highway for traders as well as an attack path for marauders.

Thankfully, now in more peaceful times, the town is a pretty, laid back place that is small in stature but big in beauty. There are only a few streets to the main part of the township making exploring quite simple.

Fun fact about Dinant is that Antoine-Joseph “Adolphe” Sax invented the saxophone there in the early 1840s. As a tribute to his achievement, the town celebrates the saxophone with a statue gracing the centre of the street entering into the township.

It may have just been good timing for our visit but there were colourful saxophone monuments spread across the town like the ones in the picture below that line the bridge across the Meuse River.

From Dinant it was back on the bus for the next leg of the trip to Luxembourg City. It’s an interesting city in that there are distinct parts to it. What looks to be the old town sits in a valley, while the battlements and newer sections seem to grace the cliff tops above.

The architecture is a combination of old charm and modern construction and frames the natural beauty of the region. It is obvious though that this city is a place of prosperity. It’s clean, tidy and feels safe.

Our guide takes us on a tour of a small part of the city before letting us wander around, but he’s at least positioned us to be able to walk to key points of interest. There are certain viewpoints from the cliffs looking down into the old town area that could be the images found on jigsaw puzzles. We will need to come back for a longer visit to fully appreciate this place.

All too soon our time is up and we board the bus back to Brussels. For us Dinant was the winner today. We like the smaller towns more than the bigger cities, they feel more welcoming.

Now, where to next?