Cabourg
The queen of beaches and Marcel Proust's town
Just 20 minutes from the gîte, Cabourg is the grand seaside resort of the Pays d’Auge. Founded under Napoléon III to a unique radial plan — its avenues fan out from the Grand Hôtel and casino towards the sea — the town drew the cream of Belle Époque society. It is forever linked with Marcel Proust, who spent every summer here for over twenty years and used it as the model for “Balbec” in In Search of Lost Time. Today, Cabourg remains an elegant and family-friendly resort, with five kilometres of fine sandy beach.
What to visit?
The Grand Hôtel and Les Planches — facing the sea, the Belle Époque Grand Hôtel is the soul of Cabourg. Marcel Proust stayed in room 414, now open to visitors. The hotel bar terrace, with its view over the beach and boardwalk, is the perfect spot for afternoon tea while watching the parade of strollers. Les Planches — the long wooden boardwalk along the beach — are Cabourg’s answer to the famous planches of Deauville.
The beach — 5 kilometres of fine sand, with lifeguards in summer. Sand yachting, paddleboarding, kitesurfing and a surf school bring the coastline to life in season. The atmosphere is more family-friendly than Deauville, livelier than Houlgate.
The radial town plan — an urban curiosity not to be missed. From the casino, avenues radiate outwards in a star pattern towards the sea and the residential quarters. A bird’s-eye view — or simply a glance at a map — reveals the full originality of this unique Napoleonic layout.
The Cabourg racecourse — specialising in harness racing, it hosts lively evening meetings in July and August (usually on Thursday or Friday evenings). A fun and unusual outing, with horses under floodlights.
Dives-sur-Mer (5 min on foot or by car) — Cabourg’s neighbouring commune holds two historical gems. The church of Notre-Dame de Dives, where William the Conqueror is said to have prayed before sailing for England in 1066 — the list of Norman knights who accompanied him is engraved inside. And the 15th-century covered market halls, one of the finest in Normandy, now transformed into a craft village with shops, galleries and a restaurant.
The casino — recently renovated, the Cabourg casino is open year-round on the seafront, with shows and events in season.
Where to eat?
The boardwalk brasseries — several seafront restaurants serve seafood, mussels, lobster and grilled fish with beach views. The atmosphere is relaxed and the terraces very pleasant in summer.
La Brasserie du Casino (Grand Hôtel) — for a more refined experience, the Grand Hôtel’s brasserie is Cabourg’s essential address, in a carefully restored Belle Époque setting.
Mussels at Dives — in the medieval halls of Dives-sur-Mer, several producers sell mussels, oysters and local specialities to take away.
The market — market on Wednesday and Sunday mornings on Place du Marché, with local producers, cheeses and Norman produce.
Cabourg is just 20 minutes from the gîte — perfect for an evening at the races, a dinner on the boardwalk or a family morning at the beach. The coastal road to Houlgate (5 min) hugs the sea and offers lovely views.