Weekend Getaway: Trouville , Normandy
A Seaside Resort Town for Everyone
Trouville, also known as Trouville-sur-Mer, is a town located on the Normandy coast, in the Calvaldos department, about 200 km (125 miles) from Paris. If you’re leaving from Paris by train, you’ll leave from Saint Lazare train station. It’s around 2.5 – 3.5 hours by train, depending on which train route you get. You’ll want to look for the Train NOMAD ticket options. This train is non-stop and gets you to Trouville-Deauville train station in a little over 2 hours.
The 21st Arrondissement of Paris
Trouville (and Deauville) is the first seaside resort town in France. It’s where all the Parisians flocked to during the end of the 19th century. The town’s character is evident by the large manor houses that line the beach. Trouville earned its nickname as the “21st arrondissement of Paris” due to the close proximity to the capital as well as it became the easy escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. The beaches that line the shores of Trouville and Deauville are known as the most beautiful beach in the world, being crowned the “Queen of the beaches”.
I’ve been twice now. Once in February (really cold, but gorgeous) and now in June. Our first time we stayed in an AirBnB right around the corner from the Fish Market. This last time we stayed in a hotel near the Casino. The great thing about Trouville is that everything is located within walking distance and you don’t really need a car. Unless you want to go to Honfleur.
Both our hotel and AirBnB were within walking distance of the main strip, near the fish market. If you’re there on a Wednesday or a Sunday, there’s a fantastic open-air market that takes place in the parking lot next to the Fish Market. I highly recommend checking it out, fabulous produce.
The Fish Market of Trouville is considered an historic monument and the building that stands there today is an exact replica of the original building. It caught on fire in 2006 and has since been rebuilt completely to original specs.
Queen of the Beaches
Trouville called to anyone and everyone as an escape. It is a vacation destination, then and still now. The beachfront is sprinkled with villas of various size that are a tribute to this fact. Everyone from Monet to Boudin, Proust, Savignac to Depardieu, and Belmondo have vacationed in this tiny fishing seaport town.
The beach in Trouville extends for about 1 km (about 0.63 miles) in length. All along the length of the beach lies the boardwalk (Promende des Planches), a path where you can easily walk without being on the sand. There are restaurants dotted along the boardwalk, but mainly near the main entrance to the beach. There is a mini tourist train that takes you on a 30-40 minute train ride throughout the town and its history. There’s also a small amusement park (Club de la Plage) that has a few attractions for children, as well as mini golf and a mini-pony excursion.
Wining and Dining the Town
There is no short of a selection of restaurants to whet your appetite.
All along the boardwalk as well as in town there is a variety of places to sit and enjoy a meal. Here are a few of my favorite places in town and on the boardwalk:
Or any of the spots within the Fish Market.
You’ll find seafood is the name of the game and you can find anything and everything from whole fish to seafood platters to crab and even lobster.
