Christophe.Finot,-Wikimedia

Top 10 Best Things to do in Deauville, Normandy


 

Deauville is a seaside destination on the Côte Fleurie in Normandy, France. It has been a swanky holiday destination since the 1800s.

This seaside resort is famous for its grand casino, golf courses, horse races and American Film Festival. The beautiful beach is lined with a 1920s boardwalk with bathing cabins. A stroll through town you will find chic boutiques, elegant belle epoque villas and half-timbered buildings.

A little history about this place; it was founded in the 1860s by two men, Joseph Ollife and Duc de Morny. They worked towards reclaiming the marshland and a resort was created from nothing. Desle-Francois Breney was the architect that designed the resort.

If you are planning a trip to Normandy, Deauville is one place to check into. Here are the top 10 best things to do in Deauville.

1. Deauville Beach

Being a seaside destination its only right to start with the beach. The white sandy beaches are irresistible with opened up sun umbrellas. It is perfect for sunbathing and the water is pleasant.

All you need to do is get there early and rent an umbrella with a lounge chair for a perfect beach view. Walking along the beach boardwalk you will find the ‘walk of fame’.

The names of famous American actors and directors are on the boardwalk. They are the ones who attended the American Film Festival hosted in the city.

Not far from the beach are shops, marina and half-timbered houses.

2. Deauville Horse Racing

By Hippodrome de Deauville – Clairefontaine -Wikimedia

Deauville is famous for horse racing; they have excellent training horses from the best breeds. Many international trainers, jockeys and their horses head over to Deauville every summer and winter.

One of the most famous places to experience this is at Ellie de Brignac. If you love horse racing or is your first time, then head over there for an annual event.

This establishment has the finest racehorses in the country. They also hold concerts and theatres for the public. There are frequent miniature horse contests that attract many people.

The city hosts several horse fairs and events while sharing its history with visitors. Such events are flamboyant with the miniature horses taking part in dressage for the parade.

3. The Great Cultural Events

There is always a funfair event happening in Deauville and they are worth attending. These cultural events are not only entertaining but tell Normandy’s history and art. It is an exciting place to take young ones too.

If you happen to be in Deauville between April and May, you can attend the books and music festival. This festival involves artists, writers, and musicians, they meet up to celebrate art.

If you love art and music then join in and enjoy good music and literature at the festival.  There’s an Easter Festival in April. A group of young performers team up and play chamber music and modern music.

Do not worry if you miss out the two, there is another festival held in July to September, the summer exhibition. This happens at Point de Vue where collections of works by famous painters are showcased.

4. Villa Strassburger – Deauville

By Zairon – Wikimedia

Villa Strassburger is a beautiful place that needs to be among the places you will visit in Deauville. This villa was constructed in 1912 and has been attracting tourists ever since.

The construction was done to reflect the beauty that is Deauville, and it was done for the great Henri de Rothschild. Later on, the property was bought by an American who fell in love with the city, hence the name.

After Ralph Beaver Strassburger passing, his son donated the home to the state since the locals cherished it.

The villa was built to depict a neo-gothic architecture that was trending then. The building is now a historic site.

5. Watch Polo

Another exciting thing to do while in Deauville is going to watch polo. This sport dates back to the late 1800s when the first match was played.

The city has an international polo club that was founded in 1907 and is among the oldest in the country. They further established a polo Gold Cup which includes world championships.

If you love horses or would like to experience this great sport for the first time, head over to Deauville-La-Touques Racecourse. It is open to the public. Most matches happen in August.

6. Les Planches – Deauville

Les planches in Deauville is where the party life is at. This is one of the greatest clubs in town. It is located at Domaine du Bois Lauret ant is quite atmospheric.

If you would like t experience Deauville at night then this is the place to go to. You will get mingle with the locals.

It is a smooth contrast of the city during the day, it is more relaxed and quieter, but it is loved by locals that love to have fun.

Other than the great mixes by the DJs at the club, there are live performances too.

7. Casino Barriere – Deauville

Christophe.Finot BY-Wikimedia

If casinos are our thing, then Casino Barriere is the place to be. This beautiful casino is close to the beach. You will take notice of this enticing casino as you walk by the beach.

Those in Monaco and Las Vegas may be on another level, but being this one in Deauville will grant you a great time. The games here are standard and they have great performances.

8. Find Clothes and Antiques in Deauville

You can find a variety of shops in Deauville that sell vintage and 20th-century deco. These shops include the Bugatty Gallery, and Antiquité de la Touques for art, furniture, dolls, and other beautiful pieces.

These stores have attracted many that come to Deauville and they are close to each other for convenience. The stores are also close to the beach and polo club.

Some of the top French brands include Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Cartier, Sonia Rykiel and Dior.

You can also find clothing in smaller boutiques along rue Desire-le-Hoc and rue Eugene Colas.

9. Try Local Fruits and Cheese at the Deauville Market

The local market is also another place to go to while in Deauville. There is a variety of fresh food items that you can buy straight from the farm. It ranges from fruits, vegetables, cheeses, fish, flowers, and crafts.

The market is held three times a week and on public holidays too. This market is located at Place du Marche close to Place Morny.

You will find paved cafés and people relaxing by. The open-air market is made up of half-timbered stalls.

Walking by the stalls, you will sell colourful vegetables and delicious smells of other French delicacies.

10. Hippodrome Deauville La Touques

By Hippodrome de Deauville – Clairefontaine, -Wikimedia

Hippodrome Deauville La Touques is another great racecourse in Deauville. As you explore Deauville, you will notice that this place is the ultimate relaxation area.

This course is elegant and enjoyable to visit. The place has spacious seating and is atmospheric. You can place a bet on your lucky horse as you relax or just enjoy the vibe.

The food is something to look forward to, their seafood is delicious.

 

Planning a trip to Paris ? Get ready !


These are Amazon’s best-selling travel products that you may need for coming to Paris.

Bookstore

  1. The best travel book : Rick Steves – Paris 2023 – Learn more here
  2. Fodor’s Paris 2024 – Learn more here

Travel Gear

  1. Venture Pal Lightweight Backpack – Learn more here
  2. Samsonite Winfield 2 28″ Luggage – Learn more here
  3. Swig Savvy’s Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle – Learn more here

Check Amazon’s best-seller list for the most popular travel accessories. We sometimes read this list just to find out what new travel products people are buying.