inDeauville, understanding seaside architecture
Originally, sea baths were only taken under medical prescription. It was only at the beginning of the 19th century, with the creation of specialized establishments, in England and then in France, that they became a fashion. However, it was not until the middle of the century and the rise of the railroad that the craze took hold. Promoters sniffed out good business and seaside resorts emerged in a few years, built from scratch or established from existing towns.
Immerse yourself in sea water once a day but never for more than 10 minutes!
Whether family or social, resorts include all the amenities for vacationers:
- A bathing establishment to enjoy the benefits of sea water
- A seawall or beachfront promenade for viewing and showing off
- A casino for entertainment
- Large hotels and villas for lodging and entertaining
The seaside resorts in Deauville ?
At the beginning of the 19th century, Villers-sur-Mer consisted of several hamlets. The town became a full-fledged seaside resort in 1856.
Originally, Deauville was a small village on the hillside overlooking the marshes below. In 1859, a crazy gamble led to the draining of the marsh to build an ideal seaside resort.
Until the middle of the 19th century, Bénerville-sur-Mer, Blonville-sur-Mer, Tourgéville and Villerville were essentially rural villages, living off livestock, agriculture and fishing. The expansion and intensive urbanization of the "seaside revolution", added to the opening of a coastal road in 1862 between Honfleur and Cabourg, gave birth to these neighboring resorts to welcome vacationers looking for a place to rest and contact with nature.
Creativity is valued and protected
Anxious to preserve the exceptional heritage quality of their town, Deauville and Villers-sur-Mer drew up regulations in the early 2000s to protect and enhance their built and natural heritage. They accompany and guide renovation, modification or construction projects in order to safeguard the old habitat and to open the way to a new quality construction, in harmony with the spirit of the place. In Deauville, this concerns 555 buildings, including nearly 300 villas dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In Villers-sur-Mer, 650 buildings have been listed, including 340 dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Bibliography
- A l'Apogée de la Villa : Côte fleurie" Plum, Gilles, 1870-1920, Cabourg éditions Cahiers du temps
- Deauville, a resort town on the Côte Fleurie", Hébert, Didier, Images du patrimoine, éditions Cahiers du temps
- Deauville", Pessis Jacques, 2005, éditions Chronique - Dargaud
- Epis de faîtage, Cabourg-Deauville", Cahiers du temps editions Cabourg
- The amazing history of Villerville, from its origins to 1945", Chegaray Jacques, 1992, Normandie inconnue editions
- Laissez-vous conter la communauté de communes Cœur Côte Fleurie", Evain Florence, Villes et Pays d'art et d'histoire, Le Pays d'Auge
- A stroll to discover the heritage of Blonville-sur-Mer", Sochon Serge, Héligoland editions
- "Blonville-sur-Mer", Sochon Serge, Héliogoland editions
- Trouville, Deauville and Côte fleurie, Villas balnéaires du Second Empire", Cahiers du temps editions
- 100 keys to understand Deauville and Trouville", Editions des falaises
- Les belles de la côte", the notebooks of the Association for the Preservation of the Heritage of Bénerville-sur-Mer
Some of these books are on sale in the Tourist Information Offices in Deauville.
