Exploring the Cote Fleurie in Normandy: picturesque Trouville

Situated on the Cote Fleurie in Normandy, only two hours by train from the French capital, Trouville is a beautiful seaside village and fisherman port with wide sandy beaches. This place is very appreciated, especially by Parisians that adore coming here for a weekend and getting the necessary dose of vitamin D. But even if Trouville borders Deauville - the queen of Norman seaside resorts, it is a less “chic” place, worth exploring. Here, you can still enjoy walking through the narrow streets, eating fresh seafood, and visiting old fisherman houses. The picturesque town of Trouville is perfect for visiting during the hot summer days, but also in spring and early fall.

About Trouville

Trouville owes its name to Thorulfr (meaning "the wolf of Thor" which was the god of strength and thunder in Nordic mythology), Viking who conquered this place. Situated on the River Toques estuary, this village, despite its powerful name, was a simple and quiet village of fishermen. But, in 1825, the French painter and writer, Charles Mozin and Alexandre Dumas discovered this pearl of the Norman coast, and they made it famous. Only a few years later, Trouville was utterly invaded by Parisians. This seaside village was also a place where the French writer Gustave Flaubert met Elisa Schlesinger, French woman that inspired some of his fictional characters such as “Madame Bovary”. Today, Trouville is a worldwide famous seaside resort, but also an important fishing port where you can enjoy eating fresh and delicious seafood.

Hotel des Roches Noires

Trouville is home to some fascinating historical monuments. One of them is the Hotel des Roches Noires. This ancient palace, built in 1866 by Alphonse-Nicolas Crépinet, was a place where the French writers Marcel Proust and Marguerite Duras spent their vacations. Also, Claude Monet, a French impressionist artist, painted this hotel in 1870. His painting “Hotel des Roches Noires” can be seen today in the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. Firstly requisitioned during World War II by the French army, and then occupied by the Germans, the Hotel des Roches Noires was closed in 1959 and transformed into a building with private apartments. This old hotel was listed in August 2000 as the French historical monument.

Le Central

Marguerite Duras, a famous French writer, was spending every summer holiday in picturesque Trouville, and almost every evening she was eating at table number 309 in the brasserie “Le Central”.  Even today, this is the most emblematic restaurant on the Cote Fleurie in Normandy and a trendy place among artists, tourists, and locals. Situated next to the fishing port, this French brasserie is especially famous for its seafood specialties.