A Continued Design Refresh for a Deauville, France Icon from 1912

Two hours outside of Paris, the neighboring coastal cities of Deauville and Trouville form what is colloquially referred to as the Hamptons of France. The nickname is an apt cultural translation. Deauville couples pensive seaside glamour with the classic amenities of a holiday destination. Boutiques for Hermès, Ralph Lauren, and Louis Vuitton nest alongside a picturesque marina, two hippodromes for horse races, Les Franciscaines cultural center, and fine dining restaurants specializing in fresh seafood. And then, of course, there’s Hotel Barrière Le Normandy, a historic centerpiece to the Côte Fleurie region’s hospitality offerings.

Built in 1912, the five star property seems like something drawn from a fairytale. Le Normandy epitomizes the eccentricity of Anglo-Norman architecture—green painted half-timbering, steeply pitched roofs, dormer windows, checkered stone accents, and a smattering of rooftop animal sculptures—and the ornate beauty of Belle Époque France. Yet, the grand hotel remains ever-developing. In November 2015, it closed for renovation for the first time since 1912. Now, the hotel often welcomes restoration and preservation. In April of this year, Le Normandy revitalized an 18-meter heated pool, indoor though beneath a movable glass roof. Next year will see upgrades to its spa.

In 2024, Barrière Group renovated two of Le Normandy’s sister restaurants: Ciro’s and Bar de la Mer, which sit on Les Planches (the boardwalk) in sight of colorful parasols. Bar de la Mer highlights local coastal cooking in a playful environment; Ciro’s also specializes in seafood, though led by elegant preparation and sophisticated recipes. This is another strength of the hotel: all of Deauville and Trouville acts like a resort for the hospitality group, encompassing three hotels (including Hotel du Golf and the exquisite Le Royal), 25 total restaurants and bars, and two casinos.

And yet, a return to Le Normandy is always a welcome one. Whether it’s for a drink in the cozy cocktail lounge, Le Bar du Normandy, dressed in mahogany wood and alive with notes from a pianist, or a meal within its classic French restaurant, Belle Epoque, which has a spectacular Sunday seafood brunch for which visitors and locals line up well in advance. To retreat into one of the 269 rooms and suites is to find contemporary comfort. When designer Nathalie Ryan refreshed the accommodations, she incorporated herringbone carpeting, custom furnishings, and toile de Jouy in one of five colors: green, beige, orange, red, and blue.

One room in particular—the Un Homme et Une Femme suite—brigdes the allure of Deauville with the grandeur of Le Normandy. Amidst unexpected angles and an intriguing palette, the suite pays homage to French filmmaker Claude Lelouch’s 1966 masterpiece. The film not only takes place in Paris, Monte Carlo, and Deauville, but a romantic scene was filmed within Le Normandy.

Between its proximity to Paris, its fashionable cache (Coco Chanel set up a hat shop within the hotel grounds), and its enchanting aesthetic, Le Normandy acts like a beacon of elevated leisure. But as advancement continues under the direction of Barrière Group heads, Alexandre Barrière and Joy Desseigne-Barrière, one thing remains the same: the thoughtful service travelers expect from a grand hotel with such history.