Deauville: The Parisian Riviera

Before my trip to France I'd never heard of Deauville but that's probably because I'm neither a wealthy Parisienne nor a Hollywood film star. This chic, upscale resort on the coast of Normandy boasts the nearest beach to Paris (two hours away) and it's also home of the annual Deauville American Film Festival, thus earning its nickname as the Parisian Riviera.

Deauville, France

The beautiful sandy beach, two kilometres long and almost all of it public, was nearly empty in early June. But the sunny afternoon was perfect for a stroll along the Promenade des Planches, a boardwalk made of tropical wood and lined by a row of changing booths named for the American directors and film stars who have attended the film festival since its inauguration in 1975.

Plage de Deauville, Deauville Beach

Promenade des Planches Changing Booths

Beach Parasols

Bar du Soleil

My accommodation for the night was at Le Royal Barriere, a grand five-star hotel built in the Norman half-timbered style. The sumptuous decor could make anyone feel like a celebrity and I was lucky to be assigned a room overlooking the English Channel. Other more famous guests of the hotel have included Winston Churchill, Omar Sharif, Meryl Streep and Brad Pitt.

Hotel Royal Barriere, Deauville

Hotel Lobby

Breakfast Room

Meryl Streep (2006)

Brad Pitt (2007)

After returning from an outing to the nearby town of Honfleur for dinner, we settled in the hotel's cozy bar for a nightcap of Pommeau. This traditional Normandy aperitif is a blend of unfermented apple juice and the potent apple brandy, Calvados.

Hotel Bar

The Normandy Aperitif, Pommeau

I would've loved to spend more than one night at this glamorous hotel (even though the neighbours were a little nosy). But we had a full day ahead of us at the D-Day Landing Beaches of Normandy.

A Room With a View (and a nosy neighbour)