From the mouth of the River Orne in the west to the Bay of the River Seine in the east, the Côte Fleurie (Flowered Coast) offers a breathtaking show to those who come for a stroll. With its bays, cliffs and beaches, as well as its picture-perfect villages, the Côte Fleurie is a delightful mix of natural beauty and seaside fun.
Where is the Flowered Coast located?
From east to west, the Côte Fleurie includes the towns and villages of Honfleur, Villerville, Trouville-sur-Mer, Deauville, Benerville-sur-Mer, Blonville-sur-Mer, Villers-sur-Mer, Houlgate, Dives, Cabourg, Le Hôme Varaville, Merville-Franceville-Plage and finally Sallenelles, overlooking the Bay of the Orne. Beyond the seafront, you’ll find the lush Normandy bocage and the rolling countryside. In fact, the coast owes its name to the famous apple trees that blossom in the spring, but also to the many flower beds and flowerbeds that line the promenades and ‘planches’ of the seaside resorts along the beaches.
Unmissable towns and villages on the Flowered Coast
Many of the Flowered Coast’s seaside resorts are famous: Honfleur, home of the Impressionists and the painter Eugène Boudin, to whom a museum is dedicated. Trouville-sur-Mer and its stunning seafront, where the writers Marcel Proust and Marguerite Duras loved to write in their sumptuous villas. Chic Deauville, with its casino a stone’s throw from the beaches, its racecourses and its Belle Epoque villas. Villers-sur-Mer, a charming village overlooking the sea. Cabourg, with its magnificent hotel and long promenade.
Honfleur
A Real Gem! You too will be charmed by this picturesque town of painters, with its medieval cobbled streets and its Old Harbour lined with restaurants. [CURRENTLY VISITING HONFLEUR] Honfleur remains accessible and welcomes visitors as usual. A very limited area around Quai Sainte-Catherine is currently subject to safety measures. The rest of the town…
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Trouville-sur-Mer
Artists and writers have long fallen for Trouville-sur-Mer, Deauville’s older sibling. This seaside resort, originally a fishing port, combines glamorous buildings and villas, a vibrant fish market, splendid sandy beach with boardwalk and many other surprises. Why should you visit Trouville-sur-Mer? If those French literary giants, Flaubert and Proust, approved, Trouville must have style. As to Monet and his Norman…
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Deauville
A popular seaside resort for locals and tourists alike, Deauville oozes style. Hosting glamorous events such as horse races and polo matches and the prestigious annual Deauville American Film Festival, Deauville also boasts two world-class golf courses, sea therapy spa, and high-end hotels, boutiques and restaurants, not to mention its magnificent beach and famous boardwalk….
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Cabourg
With its Romantic Film Festival, golden beach, racecourse, casino, Grand Hôtel and beautiful waterfront Belle Epoque villas, Cabourg is a beautiful seaside resort that speaks of by-gone elegance and prosperity. Whatever the weather, you can’t beat a walk along the beach before indulging in a delicious meal at one of Cabourg’s many restaurants. A romantic…
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A little more discreet, some of the villages of the Côte Fleurie deserve to be better known, such as Villerville and its charming old-fashioned footpaths, where Henri Verneuil shot many scenes for Un singe en hiver with Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Gabin in 1962. In the film, Villerville is called Tigreville.
A rich history
In the beginning, there were only a few small fishing villages on this coast, such as Trouville-sur-Mer, whose boardwalk became fashionable from the Second Empire onwards. Painters and writers such as Gustave Flaubert fell under its spell. The creation of Deauville, at the instigation of the Duke of Morny, marked a new turning point for the coast. Beautiful villas began to appear as bathing by the sea became fashionable. Racecourses and casinos added to the area’s appeal, as did the completion of the railway line. The craze for the coast was on the rise. Artists and large families flocked to the area on sunny days.
Things to see and do on the Flowered Coast
Whatever the season, there’s always plenty to do. As well as swimming and water sports, the surrounding countryside offers a wealth of activities and sites including cider factories, hiking trails, horse breeding, panoramic views and nature reserves. Gamblers will be spoilt for choice with horse racing and casinos galore. Gourmets can enjoy seafood and local produce such as cheese and apples. The Côte Fleurie is also home to many museums, such as Les Franciscaines in Deauville, the Villa Montebello Museum in Trouville or the Villa du Temps Retrouvé in romantic Cabourg, which takes visitors back to the Belle Époque.
For lovers of open spaces, the Bay of Sallenelles, at the mouth of the Orne, is an impressive ornithological reserve. The Orne Bay is nicknamed the ‘little Somme’. Further east, gorges and rocky outcrops form the famous Vaches Noires (Black Cows), a 4.5km stretch of cliffs between Houlgate and Villers-sur-Mer. It is said that these cliffs got their name from sailors: from their boats, the chalk blocks, crumbling down the sides and covered with seaweed, looked like peaceful herds of cows…
A different way to discover Normandy
Our selection of Normandy Experiences on the Flowered Coast
Normandy Experiences are local gems that add meaning to your trip. You’ll meet Normandy people who are truly passionate about what they do.
A Romantic Horse Ride in Cabourg
Cabourg – Varaville