Trouville Douville

Only 2 hours from Paris, Deauville and Trouville are ideal cities for a weekend by the sea. Go and discover these two superb cities!

Whether you come by train or by car, a weekend in Deauville and its little sister Trouville is a sign of relaxation, gastronomy and sometimes frenzy. The two towns are very different, and it is sometimes difficult to choose between the two, especially when it comes to accommodation or food. I propose you a small guide to find your way around and especially to enjoy Deauville and Trouville, the time of a weekend 100% on foot!

Because I’m taking advantage of the #EnFranceAussi, a project that aims to talk about our beautiful France, whose theme for April is “Escapade sans voiture” (car-free getaway).

What to do on a weekend in Deauville and Trouville:

Enjoy the beautiful beaches of Trouville and Deauville
Walking on the boards of Deauville
Discover the port of Trouville
Attend the return from fishing
Taste the local products
Eating fresh produce
To rave about the Normandy facades
Dreaming in front of the houses of Deauville and Trouville
Watching the sunset
Things to see and do in Deauville/Trouville

ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL BEACHES OF TROUVILLE AND DEAUVILLE

Of course, at least in the middle of summer, we go first to Deauville for the beach! Only two hours from Paris, it’s one of the closest beaches to the capital.
On the other hand, it’s still the English Channel, so even in August, the water temperature rarely exceeds 19 or 20 degrees… glagla!

The beaches are very pleasant:

The beach of Deauville, near the famous planks, is immense (more than 2 km long and several hundred wide)! Even in July and August, you will have plenty of room and unlike the beaches of the south of France, no problem and you won’t make war for a few centimetres of towel.
The beach at Trouville is smaller and narrower, more family-oriented.

WANDER THE BOARDWALKS

What would Deauville be without its famous boards? It is indeed a 656 metre long (7m wide) promenade created in 1923.

A large part of this walk runs alongside the Pompeian baths, where the names of great actors and directors were installed in 1990 on “lices” to pay tribute to the Deauville festival.

You will be able to cross the names of Morgan Freeman, Michael Douglas, Nicolas Cage and John Travolta.

But don’t expect them to come out of the huts, though!

DISCOVER THE PORT OF TROUVILLE

The port of Deauville is rather outlying and not very commercial. For my part, I would recommend the port of Trouville, where hundreds of boats anchor all year round.

The port of Trouville is located in the heart of Trouville, the walk there is very pleasant and changes from the big tourist ports of the seaside resorts of the coast. Discover the Morny basin and watch the superb sailing boats!

TO ATTEND THE RETURN OF FISHING

The fishing port is quite small, there are about 30 fishing boats. Every time I go to a harbour town I try to watch the fishing boat to return. I didn’t break this rule during my weekend in Trouville. You can’t buy the fish there directly, but here you can see their complicated work of these men and women, and above all it gives you good ideas for cooking in the evening… or for buying at the pier!

Moreover it is necessary to admit that the place is rather splendid: to take advantage of the fishing boats in front of the casino… it is rare!

Of course the seagulls are on the lookout if you try to escape…

TASTE THE LOCAL PRODUCTS

When you go for a weekend in Normandy, you can usually find very good local products! In Deauville and Trouville, the specialities are mussels and oysters!

You will also be able to taste Norman specialities: Normandy escalope, milk jam, Norman cider, calvados, tripe in the Caen style or andouille puff pastry with apple and camembert…

EAT FRESH FOOD

I advise you to buy them in two places:

At the market: Trouville and Deauville each have their own, where there are many stalls selling local produce. Fish, fruits and vegetables, souvenirs, delicatessen, the choice is not lacking!

Deauville Market: Place du Marché, every day from 8am to 1pm

Trouville’s market : Fernand Mourceaux Boulevard, Wednesday and Sunday from 8am to 1pm

The fish market in Trouville: open all year round, there are 9 fishmongers who offer you to buy freshly caught fish, and also to eat them directly on the spot with a glass of white wine… happiness!

Located Boulevard Fernand Moureaux, near the casino

RAVE AT THE NORMANDY FACADES

During your weekend in Deauville, you won’t miss the typical Normandy facades in Colombage. They can be seen everywhere in the region, especially on houses, buildings and especially shops in the two city centres.

DREAMING IN FRONT OF THE HOUSES OF DEAUVILLE AND TROUVILLE

And as you are only a tourist (at least it is my case), you will also dream in front of the typical houses of the region, on the land or on the seaside!

WATCH THE SUNSET

If there is a place on the coast to enjoy the sunsets, it’s in Deauville and Trouville!

On the Deauville side, enjoy the “sunset” from the beach…

For sunset in Trouville, head for the harbour and the pier, especially where the two lighthouses are located.

The most photogenic place for sunsets: Trouville’s lighthouses

If you’re lucky and the weather is good, you’ll witness a majestic sunset to end the day before heading to the restaurant!

ALSO TO SEE AND DO IN DEAUVILLE/TROUVILLE:

Here are some other ideas for activities to do during your stay:

Attend a horse race at the Deauville racecourse (dating back to 1864!)
Playing at the casino (both cities have one)

Discover the Strassburger villa, a dream villa
Visit the town centre of Deauville and its Place Morny where a superb fountain is placed in the middle of the roundabout lined with many shops.

This square owes its name to the founder of the city, Charles de Morny, brother-in-law of Napoleon III.

Shopping in the many luxury shops, Rue du Casino

A WEEKEND IN DEAUVILLE AND TROUVILLE : PRACTICAL SIDE

Moving between Trouville and Deauville

In the high season (I can’t tell you if this is the case in winter), you have three methods to reach Deauville and Trouville on foot :

You take the shuttle bus that connects the two ports, 1,20€ each way.
You go along the long canal (Boulevard Fernand Moureaux) in Trouville, which makes for a nice walk but must be 2 or 3 kilometres long.
You pay a “right of way” of 50 cts per person when the tide is low near the Casino, in fact you walk in the canal emptied of its waters. Quite impressive and it will save you a little hour’s walk.

But I still think it’s a big mistake to make people pay to go there! But then there are no small profits…

Join Deauville and Trouville by train

Thanks to the railway station located in the middle of the two cities, the place is easily accessible by train, via the Intercités. Count a good two hours from Paris!

Where to stay during a weekend in Deauville and Trouville?

For my part, I prefer to stay in Trouville, because not only do I find the town less “stuffy” than Deauville, but I also feel the housing costs. Every time I go there I take a studio via airbnb 50m from the beach, in an old dovecote behind the church. Only 20min from the train station and 5min from the city centre. A nugget if you are 2 or 3 people, for about 50€ per night. Unbeatable.

If you wish to book this studio via Airbnb here is my referral link : you will earn 25 euros on your next booking

So, did I make you want to spend a weekend in Deauville and Trouville? Which city do you prefer? Tell me all about it!

As mentioned, this month I’m participating in the #EnFranceAussi, a meeting #EnFranceAussi, which Sylvie from the blog Le coin des voyageurs has created, and the theme “Teamsansvoiture” chosen by Laurianne.