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Deauville
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| Seaside casino |
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Location within Lower Normandy region
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| Administration |
| Country |
France |
| Region |
Lower Normandy |
| Department |
Calvados |
| Arrondissement |
Lisieux |
| Canton |
Trouville-sur-Mer |
| Mayor |
Philippe Augier
(2008–14) |
| Statistics |
| Elevation |
0–83 m (0–272 ft)
(avg. 5 m or 16 ft) |
| Land area1 |
3.57 km2 (1.38 sq mi) |
| Population2 |
3,968 (2008) |
| - Density |
1,111 /km2 (2,880 /sq mi) |
| INSEE/Postal code |
14220/ 14800 |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. |
| 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. |
Coordinates: 49°21′36″N 0°04′31″E / 49.36°N 0.0753°E / 49.36; 0.0753
Deauville (pronounced: [do.vil]) is a commune in the Calvados département in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.
With its racecourse, harbour, international film festival, marinas, conference centre, villas, Grand Casino and sumptuous hotels, Deauville is regarded as the "queen of the Norman beaches" and one of the most prestigious seaside resorts in all of France. Closest seaside when coming from Paris, the city and the nearby region of the Côte Fleurie (Flowers Coast) has long been home to French high society's seaside houses and is often referred to as the Parisian riviera. Since the 19th century, the town of Deauville has been a fashionable holiday resort for the international upper class.[1] Deauville is also a desired wealthy family resort. In France, it is known perhaps above all for its role in Proust's In Search of Lost Time.
The history of Deauville can be traced back to 1060, when seigneur Hubert du Mont-Canisy dominated the magnificent land which was previously known as Auevilla. In 1066, Hubert du Mont-Canisy left to follow William the Conqueror to England.
Until 1860, when the Duc Charles Auguste Louis Joseph de Morny, half brother of the Emperor, transform Deauville into a more travelled resort, Deauville went from the reign of one mayor to another and slowly became famous as horse territory and for cultivating sainfoin. Until the death of the Duc de Morny in 1865, we can notice certain key investments that would transcend Deauville’s history. Such investments included a railway from Paris to Deauville, the Deauville hippodrome for horse races, and a small casino. Within three years over forty villas were constructed in the surrounding area and 200 rooms as well as other accommodations were finalized in the Grand Hotel. Also, to the Duc de Morny’s credit one can notice the construction of a church and a school in 1863. In the same year, “La Terrasse” was brilliantly created. This was essentially a complex for hydrotherapeutic baths and other cures as well as a 1,800-meter promenade along the seaside.
Seaside 5-star Hôtel Normandy and its gardens
Following the Duc’s death, Deauville grew gradually, but it was not until the early 20th century when Désiré le Hoc, with Eugene Cornuché, pushed Deauville into another period of transformation and development where we can notice more important changes. The still famous Normandy and Royal Hotels and Casino open in the years 1911 and 1913. Renovations and expansions are installed to the hippodrome, telephonelines are set up, the sales of yearlings see historic highs, and one can count up to 62 English and French yachts in the basin. During these successful years many luxury boutiques opened in the streets of Deauville (Coco Chanel first shop), as many stores from Paris see it worthwhile to open in the striving Norman resort.
During World War I, wounded soldiers would be cared for in Deauville’s famous hotels and casino. The war also took a heavy toll on Deauville’s blossoming market and trade sector as merchants were forced to give many of their products to the war effort.
- In 1923 the Promenade des Planches was created and finalized. This refers to the famous wooded boardwalk that parallels the seaside.
- In 1926, Eugene Corniché passes away, his position as director of Deauville’s grand establishments is filled by Francois André.
- In 1929 the construction of l”Hotel du Golf was paired with major renovations and expansions to the golf course itself. This was a decisions coming directly from Francois André. The hotel and golf course are situated on the outskirts of the town.
- In 1931 only seven kilometers away from the centre of town the first airport, “l’aeroport de Deauville-Saint-Gatien” is inaugurated. This was a pivotal event in the Deauville’s history, specifically in terms of tourism, as now from London, Deauville was only a 2-hour trip.
The combination of the national financial crisis and World War II completely removed the paradisiacal aura of Deauville that would not resurface until after the war and the 1950s. During the Second World War, the German Army occupied Deauville. Villas, hotels, and the casino were all occupied or used to some extent by the German Forces. Thanks to the help of the US, British, and specifically the Belgians, the allied forces were able to push the German troops out of Deauville and Normandy.
Following the war, and perhaps exemplified in the 1960s and beyond, Deauville has understood what it represented and decided to act in accordance, playing the cards it has at its disposal: myth and exclusivity. Michel d’Ornano is established as the new mayor and Lucien Barriere succeeds his uncle Francois André at the head of the Hotels and Casinos of Deauville. Deauville has become a centre for high society and celebrities in almost every field. With scenes of award winning movies, such as Claude Lelouch’s “un Homme et une Femme,” and endless celebrity traffic, Deauville has become an emblematic resort and town in Europe.
Charles Auguste Louis Joseph de Morny, 1st Duc de Morny, half brother of Emperor
Napoleon III
The first reference to Deauville is in 1060. At this time the village was called A Enilla and looked more like a fishing hamlet than a village. A Enilla comes from the Germanic Auwja Auwa meaning wet meadow. The village was originally up on the hill and a few houses were built next to the St Laurent chapel. Thanks to its situation near the coast, the village had a small harbour of little importance on the river Touques.
Deauville owes its greater prominence to the Duc de Morny. He described the village as: Cité calme, aux rue désertes, elle forme avec Trouville, animée et bruyante, un contraste absolu. Mais ce manque de vie n'est, en réalité, qu'apparent, car de magnifiques propriétés, de même que les délicieux jardins qui les entourent, sont entretnus avec un soin on ne peut plus raffiné. which translates as "Calm town, with deserted streets, it joins with the busy and noisy Trouville, a total contrast. But the lack of that type of life is, in reality, only apparent, because the magnificent properties, and their delicious gardens, are maintained with a care that couldn't be more refined."
Promenade des Planches, where beach closet are dedicated to famous actors and moviemakers that have come to Deauville
In 1855 land was being bought at 5 centimes/m²; in 1862 the same land was worth 1 franc/m². The buyer had indeed bought marsh land and sold constructible land.
It was in 1858 that doctor Oliffe, who owned a villa in Trouville, decided to create a "town of pleasure" on the deserted sand dunes and in 1862 the first stone of today's Deauville was laid.
The duc bought 2.4 square kilometres of marsh land and dunes for 800,000 francs. The Touques was still unchannelled but during the Second Empire the low tides permitted the construction of walls. In the 1860s visits by Napoleon III made the coast of Normandy adjacent to Deauville fashionable, and soon speculators developed the infrastructure necessary to accommodate members of the Imperial court and the growing Parisian bourgeoisie.
The railway arrived at Trouville-sur-Mer in 1863. Using the station called Trouville, passengers could reach Deauville in six hours from Paris. Morny, who had influence at Court, managed to persuade the aristocracy that staying on the coast would benefit their health. Land was bought and large villas, sometimes even palaces, were built. A casino and hotels soon followed and rich tourists came in their numbers. A common old joke among locals is that the wealthy bourgeoisie Frenchmen would keep their wife in Deauville and their mistress in Trouville, making light of the disparate socioeconomic statuses of the two neighboring seaside villages, Trouville being a working class fishing village and Deauville being home to exclusive shops and expensive real estate.
The locked harbour was dug up in 1866.
Deauville hardly suffered during the First World War. It was during World War II with the German Occupation that Deauville saw most of its leisure proprieties confiscated for use by the occupying force.
During the 1960s, Deauville started to see more mass-market visitors. Yet, the town and the surrounding Côte Fleurie are still a high-profile seaside resort, haven for the rich and famous as well as for the more discrete families of French high society such as the Rotschilds who own some Norman manor nearby Deauville. Today, Deauville is easily accessible from Paris thanks in large part to the extension of highway A132. From 26–27 May 2011, Deauville hosted the 37th G8 summit.
In an effort to prolong the summer season Lucien Barriere and Michel d’Ornano agreed to sponsor Lionel Chouchon and Andre Halimi’s idea of a film festival that specifically promoted American films, both big-budget and independent features.
1975 was the festival’s first year of existence and “The Reincarnation of Peter Proud” was the first film to be shown in the festival’s history. Since 1975 the festival has continued to promote American cinematography as well as bring American and European stars to Normandy. The festival, not at all known for its competitive nature, began to hand out awards in 1995. In 2011, from 2 September to the 11 September, the Festival will be celebrating its 37th year. There will be over 100 films presented to the general public, using the following venues: le Centre International de Deauville, le Casino Lucien Barrière de Deauville, et le Cinéma le Morny. The events are open to the public as well as to all professionals involved.
- 1995 : Living in Oblivion, by Tom DiCillo
- 1996 : The Daytrippers, by Greg Mottola
- 1997 : Sunday, by Jonathan Nossiter
- 1998 : Next Stop Wonderland, by Brad Anderson
- 1999 : Being John Malkovich, by Spike Jonze
- 2000 : Girlfight, by Karyn Kusama
- 2001 : Hedwig and the Angry Inch, by John Cameron Mitchell
- 2002 : Long Way Home, by Peter Sollett
- 2003 : What Alice Found, by A Dean Bell
- 2004 : Maria Full of Grace , by Joshua Marston
- 2005 : Crash, by Paul Haggis
- 2006 : Little Miss Sunshine , by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris
- 2007 : The Dead Girl, by Karen Moncrieff
- 2008 : The Visitor, by Thomas McCarthy
- 2009 : The Messenger, by Oren Moverman
- 2010 : Mother and Child, by Rodrigo García
Horse Race at Clairefontaine Hippodrome
Home to the Deauville-La Touques Racecourse, the countryside around Deauville is the main horse breeding region in France and home to numerous stud farms. As a result, the city is twinned with Lexington, Kentucky and County Kildare in Ireland, both of which are world leaders in breeding thoroughbred racehorses. The important Ventes de Deauville yearling auction is held in mid-August each year at Deauville.
Deauville is internationally known for its horse culture, its famous tracks, Yearling sales and its multiple group one annual races. The two famous tracks of Deauville are, Deauville la Touques and Clairefontaine These tracks are active during the months of January, July, August, October, and December.
The three most important races that occur in Deauville ever year are the following: Le Maurice de Gheest, Le Jacques le Marois, and Le Morny. More recently Le Prix d’Astarte, (Prix Rothschild) and Le Prix Romanet have gained more prestige in the racing world. Le Grand Prix de Deauville, though not a Group 1 race, remains very prestigious; since its origin the winner’s names and emblems are posted on the walls of the grand hall of the race track.
Today Deauville also hosts competitions other that simply racing. These competitions include: Polo tournaments, horseshows, and the European championship of miniature horses. Find the listing of previous winners and prizes at http://galop.courses-france.com/
Five-Star Hôtel Normandy, Deauville
Five-Star Hôtel Royal, Deauville
Le Groupe Lucien Barriere is one of Europe’s largest hotel companies. Specializing in luxury hotels and casinos Groupe Lucien Barriere own 15 hotels and over 35 Casinos throughout France.
Within Deauville The Groupe Lucien Barriere is a cornerstone. Owning two 5-star hotels, one 4-star, the casino and one renowned Golf Course it is hard not to notice the Groupe Lucien Barriere success.
Hotel Royal Barriere is perhaps the group’s most famous property in Deauville. It is perfectly located near the beach as well as the centre of town. Directly linked to the group’s renowned Casino, The Royal has been a symbol of luxury and prestige since it was built in 1913. The hotel includes two superb restaurants and state of the art spa and health services.
Also holding five stars, the Hôtel Normandy is a charming hotel which truly encompasses Norman culture and tradition. Famous for its Anglo-Norman architecture, this hotel includes over 250 rooms that each contain an impressive array of antique furniture and traditional fabrics. Known for its family oriented atmosphere the Normandy has become a landmark for tourists and locals.
Though only holding four stars, the Hôtel du Golf Barriere remains and unique and phenomenal resort. Overlooking the Norman country side and the ocean the Hotel du Golf is situated in the centre of its famous golf course which conveniently is located only 10 minutes away from the heart of Deauville. This hotel is a unique experience encompassing natural beauty, luxury services, and every essential ingredient of a high-class resort. The golf includes an 18 hole course as well as a 9 hole course.
In 1999, Dominque and his wife Diane Desseigne (the group heiress) created the Foundation Diane & Lucien Barriere The purpose is to aide and promote new talents in writings for: theatre, cinema, and music. The Groupe Lucien Barriere is currently developing an online poker website with Française des Jeux to parallel their casinos.
Historical population of Deauville
| Year |
1793 |
1800 |
1806 |
1821 |
1831 |
1836 |
1841 |
1846 |
1851 |
1856 |
| Population |
96 |
80 |
100 |
86 |
107 |
103 |
94 |
119 |
121 |
107 |
| Year |
1861 |
1866 |
1872 |
1876 |
1881 |
1886 |
1891 |
1896 |
1901 |
1906 |
| Population |
113 |
1150 |
1246 |
1514 |
2044 |
2228 |
2532 |
2522 |
2874 |
3356 |
| Year |
1911 |
1921 |
1926 |
1931 |
1936 |
1946 |
1954 |
1962 |
1968 |
1975 |
| Population |
3824 |
3849 |
4208 |
4827 |
4663 |
5683 |
5211 |
5051 |
5232 |
5664 |
| Year |
1982 |
1990 |
1999 |
2008 |
| Population |
4682 |
4261 |
4364 |
3968 |
- Eugène Boudin, painter, 8 August 1898
- Jean-Baptiste Berlier, engineer, in 1911
- Ford Madox Ford, British writer, 26 June 1939
- Gaston Jèze, judge, 5 August 1953
- Léon Chertok, psychiatrist, July 1991
- Rita Cadillac, singer, actress, 4 April 1995
- Jean-Efromrn Hallier, writer, 12 January 1997
- Alfred Sirven, businessman, 12 February 2005
- Sacha Briquet, comedian, 17 July 2010
- French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent had one of his homes in Deauville. All of his homes which he shared with a succession of French bulldogs, always named Moujik, were lavishly decorated and filled with antiques and artwork by his favorite artists, who included Picasso, Cocteau, Braque and Christian Bérard.
- Bob le flambeur, from Jean-Pierre Melville, with Isabelle Corey, Daniel Cauchy, Roger Duchesne, 1956
- Assassins et voleurs, from Sacha Guitry, with Michel Serrault and Jean Poiret, 1957
- Le Baron de l'écluse, from Jean Delannoy, with Jean Gabin, 1960
- Un singe en hiver, from Henri Verneuil, with Jean Gabin, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Suzanne Flon and Noël Roquevert, 1962
- Nous irons à Deauville, from Francis Rigaud, with Louis from Funès and Michel Serrault, 1962
- A Man and a Woman, from Claude Lelouch, with Anouk Aimée and Jean-Louis Trintignant, 1966
- Je suis timide mais je me soigne, from Pierre Richard, with l'auteur, Aldo Maccione, Mimi Coutelier and Jacques François, 1978
- Attention ! Une femme peut en cacher une autre, from Georges Lautner, with Miou-Miou, Roger Hanin and Eddy Mitchell, 1983
- A Man and a Woman: 20 Years Later, from Claude Lelouch, with Jean-Louis Trintignant, Anouk Aimée, Richard Berry, 1986
- A Foreign Field, from Charles Sturridge with Alec Guinness, Leo Mckern, Geraldine Chaplin, Lauren Bacall, Jeanne Moreau, John Randolph and Edward Harmann. 1993
- La Vérité si je mens !, from Thomas Gilou, with Richard Anconina, Vincent Elbaz and Amira Casar, 1997
- La Vérité si je mens ! 2, from Thomas Gilou, with Richard Anconina, José Garcia, Bruno Solo and Gilbert Melki, 2001
- Qui perd gagne !, from Laurent Bénégui, with Thierry Lhermitte and Elsa Zylberstein, 2004
- Trivial, from Sophie Marceau, with Marceau and Christopher Lambert, 2007
- Mesrine, l'ennemi public n°1, from Jean-François Richet, with Vincent Cassel, 2008
- Coco Before Chanel, d'Anne Fontaine, with Audrey Tautou, Alessandro Nivola, Marie Gillain, 2009
- F. Scott Fitzgerald mentions Deauville in "The Great Gatsby" as a place Tom Buchanan and Daisy visit on their honeymoon.
- Deauville was probably the location inspiration for the fictional casino in Ian Fleming's Casino Royale. The first of the James Bond series largely takes part in a Casino – Fleming had played at Deauville as a young man, and sets his tale of Bond versus Soviet agents in a fictional French gambling resort, drawing parallels with an actual WW2 visit he had made to a Portuguese casino whilst working for the British secret service.
- The screen adaption of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Links was set in Deauville.
- The Deauville casino is the setting for the heist in Bob le flambeur, directed by Jean-Pierre Melville. It is also held-up in the 2008 movie Mesrine: L'ennemi public № 1.
- Deauville was the setting for part of A Man and a Woman.
- Deauville, together with Cabourg and Trouville, provides the basis for the Norman coastal resort of Balbec in Marcel Proust's A La Recherche du Temps Perdu (Remembrance of Things Past). For a discussion of Proust's use of Norman locations and the interplay between the social structures of his novel and the region's place in French social history, see http://fds.oup.com/www.oup.co.uk/pdf/0-19-925688-8.pdf
- Deauville was a popular vacation spot for Coco Chanel during her affair with Boy Capel. The two opened her second shop there, which was the first place Chanel took the step from hat making to clothing. Deauville was the birth place of Chanel's clothing career.
Deauville is twinned with:
- Jean Bayle, Ports et Plages de la Côte Fleurie, éditions Charles Corlet, Condé-sur-Noireau, 1997.
- Pessis, Jaques, “Deauville, Chronique d’une ville,” editions Chronique-Dargaud, San Mauro, 2005.
- Poullet, Ginette, Au vrai chic balnéaire, Charles Corlet, Condé-sur-Noireau, 2006.
- Pierre Deux's Normandy : A French Country Style And Source Book /Linda Dannenberg, Pierre LeVec, And Pierre Moulin ; Photographs By Guy Bouchet ; Design By Paul Flar
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