Deauville

Good things come in pairs, and the twin Norman towns of Deauville and Trouville are the seaside resorts of choice among Parisians. But it’s important to define the terms from the start. Deauville is and has been the more stylish of the two resorts ever since Napoleon III’s half-brother, the Duke of Morny, vacationed here in the mid-19th century. It’s awash in designed boutiques and top-end hotels, there are a couple of race tracks and nightlife is central here. Trouville, on the other hand, is a lot more low-key. Once the preserve of early Impressionist artists who came here to paint the 2 km-long sandy beach en plein air, the town attracts ...

Good things come in pairs, and the twin Norman towns of Deauville and Trouville are the seaside resorts of choice among Parisians. But it’s important to define the terms from the start. Deauville is and has been the more stylish of the two resorts ever since Napoleon III’s half-brother, the Duke of Morny, vacationed here in the mid-19th century. It’s awash in designed boutiques and top-end hotels, there are a couple of race tracks and nightlife is central here. Trouville, on the other hand, is a lot more low-key. Once the preserve of early Impressionist artists who came here to paint the 2 km-long sandy beach en plein air, the town attracts a slightly more bohemian crowd and is a still a working fishing port. Deauville’s Promenade de Planches along the main beach is the place to amble while the Musée de Trouville tells the town’s tale with fabulous views over the beach. Here you’ll also find the Natu’Aquarium, a boon for families on a rainy day.

About the Expert

Steve Fallon has more than two dozen years of experience as a travel writer and guidebook author, having written or contributed to some 80 Lonely Planet and other guides.