Where is Deauville located?
The resort is situated in northwestern France, in the region of Lower Normandy, 200 km from Paris. The town is washed by the waters of the English Channel. Deauville’s beach is often called “the king of Norman beaches” because since the mid-19th century film stars and other celebrities have flocked here for holidays.
The population of Deauville is fewer than 4,000 people. Almost all villas and luxury apartments belong to wealthy French who come to the resort only in summer.
History of Deauville
The first mentions of a settlement in this area of Normandy date back to 1060. Initially, Deauville was a small fishing village with no more than a dozen houses. In 1850, the Duke of Morny came to Normandy (specifically to the neighboring town of Trouville) for a holiday.
He was utterly enchanted by Deauville’s streets and picturesque beach. The enterprising duke immediately decided to establish a resort here for the local nobility. According to legend, it was his wife, Princess Trubetskaya, who encouraged him to take this step.
As an elite resort town, Deauville was officially founded in 1862. The duke quickly convinced the French aristocracy that staying here was highly beneficial for health. The powerful, led by Emperor Napoleon III, soon began to flock to Deauville for leisure. In 1864, the resort opened its first casino, so visitors could not only swim and sunbathe but also spend money for pleasure.
After the death of the Duke of Morny, the town temporarily lost its popularity, but in the early 20th century, Deauville’s clever and ambitious mayor, Désiré le Hoc, managed to restore its former glory as a resort for VIPs.
