This is how Guy de Maupassant described the famous Côte Fleurie seaside resort. Just two hours from Paris, Trouville-sur-Mer owes its reputation to the charm of its fishing port, the beauty of its long sandy beach, the richness of its 19th-century seaside architectural heritage and the praise it has received from artists since 1825.
Painting and literature are part of the town's DNA. Trouville-sur-Mer as a seaside resort was created under the auspices of 19th century painters and writers. Charles Mozin, in search of the picturesque, discovered our fishing port as early as 1825, and went on to seduce the Tout-Paris with his paintings. He literally fell under the spell of this small village and told his painter friends about it. The little fishing village became a popular spot for artists.
The Casino Municipal was built in 1912 under the impetus of visionary Eugène Cornuché. This man marked a turning point in the history of Trouville-sur-Mer. As director of the Eden Casino and Casino Salon in 1909, he dreams bigger, always bigger. These two venues, built a decade earlier, no longer met the expectations of high society : they were no longer large or prestigious enough for the times. These notions of luxury, comfort and modernity led to the construction of a new Casino, the largest in France, supported by a decision of the trouvillaise municipality. At the time, the term "Casino" was used not only to refer to gaming establishments, but also to "hot baths" (the forerunner of spas and thalassotherapy centers). A few years later, during the First World War, the Casino Municipal was requisitioned as an additional military hospital. The same happened during the Second World War.
A picturesque fishing village transformed into a seaside resort with unusual streets and lanes, welcoming venues and gargantuan markets. Trouville-sur-Mer owes its name to the Viking chieftain Thorulf, who around the year 1000 named the town Thorulfvilla, which over time became Trouville-sur-Mer. As early as 1866, with the construction of numerous villas along the seafront, the municipality had a boardwalk installed along the coast to facilitate walking on the "Queen of Beaches".
At the time, the boardwalk became a meeting place for socialites, where prominent families and personalities came to be seen. They were also an invitation to stroll and contemplate the maritime landscape.
Trouville-sur-Mer became "the place to be". Over time, the town has been able to adapt and evolve, without ever denying its past. That's why we love to stroll here, whatever the season. There's something unchanging here.
The term "Côte Fleurie" refers to the lush, flower-filled countryside of Normandy's hinterland, with its apple trees in bloom, and its many renowned seaside resorts : Trouville-sur-Mer, Deauville, Cabourg, Houlgate, Blonville-sur-Mer, Villers-sur-Mer... Open your eyes wide, the Côte Fleurie is a real postcard setting !
For all lovers of well-being and the art of living, Trouville-sur-Mer offers a year-round change of scenery to awaken your 5 senses. This season, discover the program !
