Deauville Guide | Beach Resort Travel Guide

Introduction

Two hours from Paris, Deauville is a prestigious resort of worldwide renown, famed for its yachting harbour, its racecourses and its many festivals and cultural events, the biggest of which is the international American film festival, first held there in 1975. Deauville is the brainchild of the Duke of Morny, Napoleon III's half-brother, who came to Trouville in 1858 and, seeing the potential of this stretch of the Norman coast, was inspired to build a chic resort that would be easily accessible from the capital. Deauville really took off after WWI when Paris beau monde descended on the Norman town to make the most of its golden sands and party the night away before retiring to one of the sumptuous hotels lining the waterfront. Josephine Baker, Mistinguett and Coco Chanel were among many illustrious visitors during Deauville's heyday. Today it has lost none of its allure and still attracts the stars and the well heeled, but it has also become a big business tourism destination since the opening of the CID Palais des Congres in 1992.

Who goes there?

Deauville attracts a mixed bag of holiday makers. The resort has something for everyone and is just as at ease playing host to American film stars during the festival as it is being a welcoming resort to families in summer.

Where in the world?

Deauville lies on the Channel, in the Lower Normandy region. It is located in the heart of the Baie de Seine, on the evocatively named Côte Fleurie, between the cities of Le Havre to the east and Caen to the west. Le Havre Airport (LEH) is the nearest international airport.

Beach

The colourful umbrellas on Deauville's fine sand beach have become a landmark of the town, as has its boardwalk made of exotic wood. There are various clubs to keep children entertained throughout the day. The Centre Nautique (promenade des Planches) offers windsurfing, speed sailing, catamarans, sea kayaking, bodysurfing, kite flying and surfing. Watersports including jet-ski and sailing are also available on the Bassin de Plaisance Morny.

Beyond the beach

Deauville is famous for its architecture - for its typical Norman half-timbered houses and its fin-de-siecle villas: the Villa Strassburger is one of several you can visit.

There are several golf clubs nearby, including Golf Barrière Deauville (Le Mont-Canisy, Saint-Arnoult), Amirauté Golf Club in Tourgéville (5km/3 miles from Deauville) and Golf Barrière de Saint-Julien (Saint-Julien-sur-Calonne, 15km/9 miles from Deauville). Horse lovers have come to the right place too: there are two hippodromes in Deauville hosting some great derbies, and horse riding on the beach at low tide is also a popular activity.

Les Circuits de Deauville (Domaine de Betteville, Pont l'Eveque), 10km (6 miles) from Deauville, is a big racing complex offering various tracks for go-karting, Formula One, quads, 4-wheel drive, prestige cars, scooters and a lot more.

Family fun

There is plenty to do for kids of all ages (and their parents) in the region. Le Val des Cimes is a fun canopy rope walk for children from the age of three (Le Val de l'Air, Saint-Gatien-des-Bois). Parc de Loisirs Normandie Challenge on the lake of Pont l'Eveque (10km/6 miles from Deauville) offers all sorts of watersports and other activities for children of all ages, including windsurfing, jet-skiing, pedalos, sailing, kayaking, paint balling, tennis, mini golf, trampoline, horse and poney riding. There is also an Olympic size swimming pool in town, and cycling is popular too.

Retail therapy

The main shopping streets are rue Mirabeau and rue Albert-Fracasse. For big brand names (and there is no shortage of those in Deauville), head for rue Eugène-Colas, place Morny and place du Casino.

Local specialities to take home include Calvados and cider (the best choice can be found at La Cave de Deauville, 48 rue Mirabeau), but also cheeses such as Pont l'Eveque and Livarot. There is a market (place du Marche) daily in summer to stock up on more goods.

A night on the town

The Casino Barrière de Deauville (rue Edmond Blanc) (website: www.lucienbarriere.com), with its 325 slot machines, roulette, Black Jack and poker plus three restaurants, two bars, a nightclub and a cinema, is a destination in itself. There are four additional nightclubs in town, another cinema and even a bowling alley, as well as plenty of bars (many of which stay open late in summer).

Eating out

From gastronomic restaurants such as the Michelin-starred L'Etrier Barriere (website: www.etrier-deauville.com), arguably the best restaurant in town, to fast food outlets, from pizzerias to Asian restaurants, dining out options in Deauville are plentiful.

Getting around

The centre of Deauville is easily negotiated on foot. A little tourist train leaves from place de la Mairie or from restaurant le Ciro's, from Easter to September. A regular bus service links Deauville with Caen, Honfleur and Le Havre. Trains also link Deauville with Paris in about two hours - they depart from Deauville-Trouville station.

Exploring further afield

You'll be hard pressed to find a cuter little town than Honfleur (12km/7.5 miles from Deauville), with its narrow lanes and old houses, and its celebrated harbour, immortalised by many painters, and particularly the Impressionists, who were drawn to the light of the Old Dock and the colourful sails reflected on the water. Another local spot popular with artists is Etretat (60km/37 miles from Deauville), a seaside resort most famous for its white cliffs. The place to go for spectacular sunsets over the Atlantic.

Splashing out

Aeroclub de Deauville, based at Deauville - Saint-Gatien airport (10km/6 miles from Deauville), offers first flights for budding pilots and various courses. Or if you'd rather take to the sea than the sky, courses are also available for those interested in learning how to skip a boat (Securimer, 33 cours des Fossés, Honfleur) (website: www.securimer.com). For those wanting something a bit less energetic, the Thalasso Spa Deauville (3 rue Sem) (website: www.thalasso-deauville.com ) offers a range of treatment and activities.