Trouville-sur-Mer
OFFICE OF TOURISM
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32 boulevard Fernand Moureaux
14360 Trouville-sur-Mer
Ph : 02 31 14 60 70
Email : tourisme@trouvillesurmer.org
Open 7/7
April to October & during school holidays :
10am-6pm (5pm on Sunday & public holidays)
July & August :
9:30am-7pm (10am-6pm on Sunday & public holidays).
November to March :
10am-6pm (10am-1:30pm on Sunday & public holidays)
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WHERE TO PARK IN TROUVILLE ?
- There are several paid parkings along the quays and next to the casino often full of course and expensive : they are paying 7/7 from 9am to 7pm and are spread over 3 zones (with different rates, so be careful) : red, orange and green.
– The green zone (next to the Tourist Office) is paying only from April 1st to October 31st and also during the school holidays. The rest of the year, it’s free.
– Parking spaces on the orange and red zones are paying all year round. - I ADVISE YOU to move a little away from the beach and the city center to park a little more on the heights of the city in the small streets.
You can also try in street Général de Gaulle or Avenue Kennedy towards the town of Touques where it’s free. - If you are in Trouville and Deauville just for the day, don’t bother moving you car : park in either of the two cities and cross the river on foot through the Pont des belges (Bridge of the Belgians). Both cities are very close to each other.
MUST-SEE IN TROUVILLE !
– The beach, the Savignac Promenade along the boardwalk and the Belle Epoque villas on the beach.
– Casino Barrière.
– Villa Montebello museum
– The nice picturesque narrow streets of the town center with its small passages, fishermen’s houses and typical seaside shops.
– Notre-Dame-des-Victoires church.
– The fish market on the quay and the traditional market.
– And have a drink (or eat…) in one of the mythical brasseries of the city :
Les Vapeurs, Le Central or Les Mouettes.
Trouville has kept its authenticity and the charm of a small fishing village.
In 1825, it was a modest fishing port when the Parisian artist Charles Mozin was charmed by the place, painted the surroundings and knew a great success when he returned to Paris.
He is considered the one who discovered Trouville.
Then, The city became a popular seaside resort with the influx of Parisians and the arrival of the railway in 1863 transforming the architecture and appearance of the city.
Many painters came here like Claude Monet or Eugène Boudin and also writers (Gustave Flaubert, Marcel Proust).
In 1847, Trouville became the town of Trouville-sur-Mer when it merged with Hennequeville for its nice sandy beach.
Trouville-sur-Mer is the oldest seaside resort in Normandy.
But Trouville was soon challenged by Deauville and at the beginning of the 20th century, Trouville declined : Deauville was a great success and Trouville lost inhabitants.
It was thanks to the new mayor of the city elected in 1934, Fernand Moureaux that Trouville once again developped but wishing this time to attract different people than in Deauville : a more popular and family clientele. Then Fernand Moureaux created the fish market, an olympic swimming pool with seawater and bathing establishments.
Today, Trouville is a seaside resort attracting many tourists and also remains a fishing port specializing in mackerel with 27 trawlers and 11 fishmongers.
- GOOD TIP 1 :
WALKING ITINERARIES.
Several walking itineraries for exploring Trouville and its surroundings are available for purchase at a modest price from the Tourist Office.
Most are in French, but one is available in English: « Trouville Côté Pêcheurs » (The Fishermen’s District of Trouville). This self-guided tour lets you discover the fishing district, with its stairs and narrow alleys, on foot.
The price of this itinerary is around 3,50 euros. - GOOD TIP 2 :
SMALL FERRY BOAT TROUVILLE-DEAUVILLE.
Take the boat « Le Trait d’Union » to cross the Touques river between Deauville and Trouville (or vice-versa) !
This connection between the two riverbanks has existed since 1889 coinciding with the creation of the Deauville casino.
The small ferry boat (= in French the « Bac »), « Le Trait d’Union » (The Hyphen in English) can carry 25 passengers and saves you a walk of more than 1.5 km to reach the other bank. It’s a great convenience!
At high tide, the boat crosses the Touques in 7 minutes, with crossings every 5 minutes all year round for 1.50 euros per crossing. Strollers, bicycles and dogs are welcome.
At low tide, a footbridge is installed for crossing the river at a cost of 0.50 euros.
Bac de Trouville : 1 Quai Albert 1er, Trouville.
Bac de Deauville : Esplanade du Quai des Yachts, Deauville.
VISIT
You must be aware that like any tourist place, Trouville, its beach, city center and restaurants are crowded in summer and during the fine weekends of the year especially from April.
To enjoy the beauty of the beach more peacefully : there are fewer people at low tide and early in the morning…
- THE BEACH, THE BOARDWALK AND THE FORMER HOTEL « LES ROCHES NOIRES«
A very beautiful long beach (1,2 km) ideal for families with all facilities for children and from where you can admire sumptuous villas of different styles built between 1865 and 1885.
Walk along « Les Planches » created in 1867, known today as the « Promenade Savignac » dedicated to the artist. Raymond Savignac was a famous French poster designer (1907-2002) who lived many years in Trouville and where he died. Along the promenade, you can discover reproductions of his most famous posters and some of his works at the Montebello Villa Museum and its annex « The Gallery of the Museum » located at the Tourist Office. In the city you will certainly notice some painted walls with reproductions of some of his posters. See below the « Itinerary of the painted walls ».
Relax on the white and blue benches with the names of artists and personalities having a link with Trouville (painters, writers, economists, musicians…) such as Claude Monet or Marcel Proust… perfect for a souvenir photo !
At the end of the Promenade Savignac you can’t miss the former Hotel des Roches Noires (89 rue Général Leclerc, 14360 Trouville) an imposing palace dating from 1866 transformed into private apartments in 1959. Many French personalities (the writers Marcel Proust and later Marguerite Duras) loved to stay here.
FOLLOW MY SUGGESTED WALKING ITINERARY FROM THE HOTEL DES ROCHES NOIRES
and discover lovely typical small streets, other villas and fishermen’s houses.
1- From the Hotel des Roches Noires, take the staircase « Marguerite Duras » on the left and visit (if you want of course) the Montebello Museum (see details below).
2- Continue along Orléans street and take Thiers street on your left.
3- Climb « les escaliers du Serpent » (= the stairs of the snake) and admire the superb view of Trouville.
4- Retrace your steps down the stairs and don’t miss the pretty « rue des rosiers » with fishermen’s houses and then join the street « rue des bains ».
- THE MONTEBELLO VILLA MUSEUM
Museum of seaside art and history
This typical seaside villa of the 19th century was built in 1865 for the Marquise de Montebello, imitating castles of the 17th century. After WWII, the villa was transformed into a school and became the Museum of Trouville-sur-Mer in 1972. It is listed as a Historical Monument.
It is a charming small museum on the history of sea bathing and therefore on the development of Trouville-Deauville. Temporary exhibitions are organized
You will see period costumes and objects, lithographs, manuscipts, paintings and drawings made by artists who contributed to the development of these seaside resorts in the 19th century and also works of 20th-century artists like the poster designer Raymond Savignac.
There is a very nice view from the museum of the beach and the former luxury hotel « Les Roches Noires ».
The « Gallery of the Museum » at the Tourist Office (32 Boulevard Fernand Moureaux, Trouville) is an annex to the Villa Montebello, a space more dedicated to the poster artist Raymond Savignac and the graphic arts.
VILLA MONTEBELLO
64 rue Général Leclerc
14360 Trouville-sur-Mer
Ph : 02 31 88 16 26
Website HERE.
Open from mid-March to December 31st.
Please check online as opening times vary a lot over the months.
Always closed on Monday & Tuesday.
Duration of the visit on your own : about 1 hour.
- THE COVERED FISH MARKET
154 Boulevard Fernand-Moureaux, 14360 Trouville
Open every day from 9am to 7pm.
This is the must-see place in Trouville of course for the traditional and typical atmosphere but it’s also very touristic I must admit… Nevertheless you can’t miss it (for the pleasure of the eyes) when you are in the city. The stalls of fishmongers are very well presented and are appetizing.
The covered fish market of Trouville was built in 1936 by the Trouville architect Maurice Vincent. The structure is made of reinforced concrete. The false half-timbered frame reflects the will of « architectural Normanization » of the time by the mayor, Fernand Moureaux. It was rebuilt identically after being heavily damaged by fire in 2006 and reopened in 2011. It has been on the list of historical monuments since 1991 which has helped protect the fishing port area.
This fish market is a place where you find a series of stalls with daily fresh fish and shellfish. You can also eat on site directly from the merchants (except on December 24 and 31), but bare in mind that it is very expensive…
DON’T MISS IN SUMMER :
– In July (a whole weekend around the 20th / according to the tides) : The Sea Festival honors the sea and the fishermen with lots of events and animations organized : exhibitions, marine games, mackerel rillettes competition, visit of ships decorated for the occasion, mass, parades, sea trip in memory of the sailors… This feast was created in 1933 and was at the time only a blessing of the sea. A friendly moment to share with the Normans !
- THE WEEKLY MARKET
Boulevard Fernand-Moureaux, from the Pont (bridge) des Belges to the covered fish market.
Every Wednesday and Sunday from 8am to 1pm.
This is the traditional market, very pleasant and lively along the quays where you can buy any food and where many craftsmen are present. There is even a bookseller.
- THE WEEKLY MARKET
- THE CASINO & THE CURES MARINES
Place du Maréchal Foch, 14360 Trouville : located between the fishing port and the beach.
Between 1838 and 1912, several casinos succeeded each other or cohabited in Trouville, gambling had been authorized in the city since 1808 in order to offer entertainment to wealthy Parisians who had come for sea bathing :
– The first one, called the « Salon des Bains » opened in 1838 where the « Trouville Palace » is today (transformed in holiday flats) at 11 Promenade des Planches.
– In 1845 the « Casino-Salon » was established where the current Flaubert hotel is located. It was frequented by the greatest personalities and artists. At this time, casinos were not only a place of gambling but luxury establishments of entertainment where balls, operettas and plays were held regularly.
– The current casino (the municipal one) was built in 1912 and was considered at the time as the largest casino in France. Decorated in a colonial style inspired by Louisiana, the building is a kind of monument in the city. In 1992, it became the « Casino Barrière of Trouville ».
– Next to the casino, you will find « Les Cures Marines de Trouville« which consist of a 5-star hotel and a thalassotherapy center and spa.
The salt water spa was created at the same time as the casino, in 1912. If the casino has always been in activity, much of the huge building was used for various purposes during the 20th century. Not to mention, the incessant struggle between Trouville and Deauville also did not help at times the big establishment which had to face as it could.
During WWI and WWII the place was turned into a resting place for wounded soldiers.
Later and until 1956, it housed the municipal museum before becoming a center of marine cures under medical prescriptions. Then part of the building remained unoccupied for many years until the city decided to transform the place into a luxury hotel and a thalassotheray center that are today « Les Cures Marines ».
- THE ITINERARY OF THE PAINTED WALLS : a tribute to the poster artist Raymond Savignac (1907-2002)
A walking itinerary to follow in the footsteps of Savignac, the most famous French poster artist of the second half of the 20th century. You will discover a dozen posters which were reproduced on some city walls.
In 1979, Raymond Savignac settled in Trouville where he used to come on vacation since his childhood. From then on, he illustatred some local events and undeniably became an artist linked to Trouville. In 1987, he made a donation of about 250 posters and 8 models to the museum of Trouville. After he died in 2002, the city of Trouville decided to pay tribute to him by decorating some walls of the city with his works.
What characterizes his work ? A very simple drawing, a powerful idea, colors and lots of humor!
Where can you observe the painted walls ?
– 5 rue des Ecores
– 59 rue du Général de Gaulle
– 4 rue Sir B. Russel
– 2 rue Jean Bart
– 46 rue des Bains
– 9 rue d’Orléans
– 8 rue de Paris
– Les Planches, Promenade Savignac, Hotel Flaubert.
You can get the itinerary document from the Tourist Office. The map will be helpful to find the painted walls but the explanations are only in French.
- NOTRE-DAME-DES-VICTOIRES CHURCH
9 place Notre Dame, 14360 Trouville-sur-Mer
Built between 1834 and 1848 in a neo-classical style, this beautiful church (a renovation is in progress) which is on top of a rising street overlooks a little the port. We must climb a staircase to access the entrance. Look at the atypical facade with a triange pediment and admire the very beautiful organ inside.
An oil on canvas by the French landscape painter Louis-Etienne Watelet and called « Vue de l’église Notre-Dame des Victoires de Trouville » dating from 1846 offers a rare view of the church of the time. Click HERE to view the painting.
EAT
Villa Gypsy
An atypical place created by a mother and her daughter in Trouville in 2014.
A « concept store » where you can have a drink, eat simple but delicious food and buy furniture and decoration items.
VILLA GYPSY
65 rue des Bains, 14360 Trouville
Ph : 09 53 83 88 90
Website HERE.
Opening days
– All year round from Wednesday to Sunday
10:30am-7pm
– Open 7/7 during school holidays.
Budget : reasonable.
– A decoration shop with beautiful items from all over the world AND a coffee shop /restaurant offering delicious pastries and excellent simple food at reasonable prices.
– A lovely patio in a green setting where you can have a coffee (excellent capuccinos!), brunch or lunch : very well prepared and presented healthy dishes. Vegetarians are welcome !
– Try the Norman cake if you like salted butter caramel… A true Norman delight !!
– My favorite place place in Trouville to eat or have a coffee in an atmosphere of « travel around the world » !
Wine/Tapas Bar and Restaurant "Les Affiches"
Very good French cuisine and a large selection of wines in a friendly atmosphere : not to be missed in Trouville !
LES AFFICHES
6 rue de Paris, 14360 Trouville-sur-Mer
Ph : 02 31 98 31 94
Opening days
Open every day except on Tuesday & Wednesday.
Budget : moderate.
– In a street leading to the beach, a good brasserie/restaurant and bar in a relaxed setting with a ceiling decorated with plenty of posters.
– Enjoy a glass of wine with very good tapas or an inventive and delicious dish made with only fresh products.
– The place is very popular with locals so often full… but they don’t take reservations. So, just try!
Les Vapeurs Brasserie
An institution in Trouville (actually, there are 3 of them but this one is my favorite) : created in 1927, enjoy a very beautiful Art Deco setting just opposite the covered fish market.
The 2 other emblematic brasseries of Trouville are :
– Le Central (next to Les Vapeurs) : a cozy 1930s decoration.
– Les Mouettes (rue des Bains) : an authentic bistro with a painted ceiling with… seagulls.
LES VAPEURS
160 Boulevard Fernand Moureaux, 14360 Trouville-sur-Mer
Ph : 02 31 88 15 24
Follow them on Instagram HERE.
Opening days
7/7 in continuous service from 9am to midnight.
Budget : moderate/high.
– An authentic and emblematic traditional brasserie where you can just have a coffee if you want to enjoy the nice setting.
– You can also eat traditional cuisine : seafood and fish specialities and some meat à la carte.
– RESERVATION IS RECOMMENDED.
I also love the decoration of the refined restaurant La Régence, 132 Boulevard Fernand Moureaux : it’s like a small museum inside despite an ordinary facade.
A cozy and warm atmosphere for a romantic (but not only) dinner in an exceptional decor with beautiful mirrors, gilding, period paintings, stained-glass windows in the middle of the ceiling and superb woodwork dating from 1853.
– Closed on Wednesday & Thursday.
– Open the other days of the week for lunch and dinner.
– Website HERE.
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