Deauville

The beach : walk along the 2-km sandy beach of Deauville and admire the beautiful colors of the sky and the sea at any time of the day : Eugène Boudin was fascinated by the changing lights of that beach and settled his easel very often to paint that magical view.
If you continue to walk further than the end of the Boards, you will arrive to the beach of Bénerville. Many beautiful villas can be admired along the beach. 

Les Planches/The Boards : In the 19th century, people came to seaside resorts to enjoy sea bathing but also to show up with elegant outfits : ladies could walk on the boardwalks without fear of ruining their beautiful dresses in the sand.
In 1921, the old beach cabins and the boardwalk were replaced by a modern « Sea-bathing Establishment », called the « Pompeian Baths » in the art deco style (inaugurated in 1924) and the famous « Boards » are installed at the same time. The promenade is today  642 meters long (originally 444 meters).
Since the 1990s,  names of some actresses and actors who frequented the American Film Festival have been written on the concrete barriers separating each  beach cabin. The place not to miss in Deauville and where to take a picture !

The Pompeian Baths : dating from 1921, the Pompeian Baths were very modern for their time : built in concrete, admire the beautiful mosaics, the fountains, the cabins dedicated to therapeutic baths and the pools. You can hire a beach cabin for the day, week or month ! Today there are 450 of them (in 1921, 250) : some open directly on the famous « Planches » or on the inner courtyards or on the Boulevard.

DID YOU KNOW ?
Coco Chanel (not yet known) opened her first fashion boutique in 1913 in Deauville between the hotel Le Normandy and the casino : it was called « Gabrielle Chanel ».
Go to the 11, avenue Lucien Barrière and you will see a plaque signed Karl Lagerfeld in honor to the legendary stylist who started to revolutionize fashion in Deauville offering flexible and casual clothes inspired by men’s wardrobe.

– LE NORMANDY (the palace I consider to have the most charm. If you can, have a drink at the bar of the hotel for a small luxury experience !)
38 rue Jean Mermoz, 14800 Deauville

Inaugurated in 1912 and considered at the time as « the most beautiful hotel in the world », this legendary 5-star luxury hotel was built in a traditional regional manor-style, looking like a huge Anglo-Norman cottage. Admire the beautiful pastel green half-timbered facades and stone checkerboards walls.
It was the first palace hotel of Deauville followed the year after by the Hotel Royal.
Le Normandy hotel has always attracted the big names in cinema and is at the center of the American Film Festival every year in September.
The hotel was completely renovated in 2016.
The 271 rooms and suites are all decorated with Toile de Jouy adorning the walls.
There is a gastronomic restaurant, La Belle Epoque (lunch menus at 39 and 49 euros and brunch on Sunday at 90 euros) and a very cozy bar ( in the Louis XVI woodwork style) open every day from 11am to midnight.

– HOTEL LE ROYAL
Boulevard Eugène Cornuché, 14800 Deauville.
Inaugurated in 1913 only one year after the opening of hotel Le Normandy given the success of the resort, the hotel Le Royal is a place of cosy luxury with its imposing facade facing the sea, its 219 rooms and 27 suites. The red color dominates giving an impression of a palace of the Old Empire, with its velvet armchairs and sofa, its high ceilings and its fairy chandeliers.
It’s worth crossing the lobby just to take a look or treat yourself with a coffee or a drink at the bar ! 

It was built very close to the city center in 1864 by the duke of Morny who was passionate about horses. In the center, there are 3 polo fields.
Horse races are organized all year round  but in August, there is a rich program with 7 prestigious races with the best French and international riders running : an event not to be missed if you are interested by horse races ! All the schedule of races in Deauville HERE.

An exceptional place dedicated to culture which opened in 2021 with temporary exhibitions, an auditorium (in a former chapel) and a media library located in a building of the 19th century which was a convent, an orphange, a school and a hospital.
– Website HERE.
– Open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10:30am-6:30pm.
– Closed on May 1st and December 25th.
– Free access to the cloister, the media library, (the book shop and the restaurant).
– Entrance fee for exhibitions.
Discover a magnificent renovated cultural centre respecting the history of the building with a contemporary touch that makes the place majestic! When I visited it, I was so amazed and impressed that I stayed there for hours, walking and admiring the different spaces so well arranged. 
Magic happens as soon as you enter what was the cloister of the convent where visitors are first welcomed. No doubt, you will be captivated by the huge and splendid modern chandelier made of 14,285 polycarbonate tubes ! By the way, is it a nod to the impressionists as it looks like a big elegant cloud in the Norman sky… ? In this vast and bright space of 400m2, you can read newspapers and magazines available for free and trust me : you will remain speechless so it’s beautiful, original and unique !
Don’t hesitate also to go upstairs to « visit » the media library (it’s free) : paintings and photos all related to Deauville and its history are displayed on the walls of the 5 different thematic spaces.  Each space refers to a universe (Horses, Deauville, Spectacles, Art of living and Youth) and has its own specific color which is a delight for the eyes : we no longer want to leave but to curl up with a book in the comfortable sofas and armchairs that are here and there !
There are also quite playful information interactive points (in French and in English) that will allow you to learn more about the city’s past and present.
Finally, you can eat at « The Réfectoire », the modern canteen of the Franciscans to enjoy fresh, original and balanced dishes in a relaxed setting as you sit around a large shared table ! There is also a nice terrace for sunny days. More details below in my « restaurant recommendations » / Eat in Deauville.

– The traditional market
Place du marché, close to Place Morny.
In very beautiful half-timbered and open-air halls, the traditional market of Deauville is a must-see and has always been my favorite market on the Floral Coast ! You will find local products, specialties, cheese, vegetables, fruits, fish, flowers… it’s a real treat for the eyes and senses !
When ?
– All year round and always open on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday and some other days of the week according to the season but never open on Wednesday.
– 7am to 1:30pm.
– July & August : everyday except Wednesday.
– Closed on December 25th and January 1st.

– The organic market
Square of Saint-Augustin church, Allée Armand Esders, 14800 Deauville
Cheese, vegetables, jams… local producers who sell their organic products.
When ?
– Every Thursday morning, all year round.
– 8am to 1pm.
If you are on the square, go and have a look at the Saint-Augustin church dedicated in 1865 by the bishop of Bayeux. It took only 11 months to build it.
Admire on the main facade, the 9 enamelled lava paintings made by Jules Jollivet in 1866.

And inside, the very beautiful stained glass windows whose exceptional  colours are revealed when the sunlight passes through them.