Cabourg

The story
Until the 19th century, Cabourg was a modest fishing village with fewer than 200 inhabitants. It was in the second half of the 19th century that the wealthy bourgeoisie discovered the seaside appeal of the Normandy coast, and the most famous resorts sprang up.

In Cabourg, it was the construction of the Grand Hôtel in 1861 that kick-started what was to become the epitome of the Normandy resort at the beginning of the 20th century. More than the pleasures of the beach, it was the climate, with its invigorating iodine air, that seduced the wealthy owners of the sumptuous villas. They were built at a frenetic pace, competing in grandeur and refinement. Cabourg was also at the cutting edge of progress, with the construction of a tramway linking the town to Caen. Little by little, social life transformed the resort into a place of entertainment, with Parisian operetta and comic opera artists performing outdoors in Cabourg.

Marcel Proust stayed at the Grand Hôtel for more than 10 years in a row in the early 20th century, not only to treat his chronic asthma, but also to observe the haute bourgeoisie he would describe in "A l'ombre des jeunes filles en fleur", the second volume of La recherche du temps perdu. Cabourg is described as Balbec.

After the First World War, it was above all the infrastructure that helped Cabourg shine in the 1930s, with the construction of a golf course, a racecourse and the first concrete tennis court - a material that Cabourg has otherwise managed to avoid until the present day. The romantic Belle-Epoque atmosphere epitomized by Proust has continued to this day, and Cabourg remains a favorite with lovers from all over the world.

Today

Cabourg has preserved its heritage as a luxurious and attractive seaside resort to a far greater extent than its cousins, particularly Deauville. Proof of this is the seafront promenade, which is one of the most beautiful with its magnificent hotels and villas. The new buildings are discreet and, on the whole, well integrated. Similarly, the streets and squares have retained their neat, flowery, green appearance. The town center, partly pedestrianized, has also retained the charm of the upper-middle-class stores of yesteryear, with mainly small fashion and gourmet brands.