By Rupert Parker

Rupert Parker takes a new flight direct from London’s Stansted and finds these twin Norman towns ideal for a weekend break.

Unlike Calais and Boulogne, Deauville and Trouville have never really been an option for a long weekend as, once you’re over the channel, it’s quite a long drive. Now, just 50 minutes on Ryanair opens up this part of Normandy for the British traveller.  Enjoy Calvados, cider, shellfish and the best of French cooking and also do a bit of shopping at the weekly market.

Deauville

Originally a patch of marshland, the resort of Deauville was thrown up quickly in the middle of the 19^th century, to capitalise on the railway link from Paris. It soon became a fashionable seaside resort, attracting not just Parisians but the international upper classes. The casino, sumptuous hotels and racetrack were the main attraction, but its wide beach, the closest seaside to Paris, made it an ideal place for family holidays. These days not much has changed although the rise of online gambling has taken away much of the business from the casino. Unlike similar English resorts, which all seem to have seen better days, the place is like an impeccable time warp and you expect to bump into the Aga Khan or Errol Flynn at every turn.

They’re very present in the old B&W photographs which line the walls of the Royal Barrière Hotel but I’m here for a cooking class, held every Saturday morning by their chef, Eric Provost. The theme is Provence and around ten of us are in the kitchens to learn how to cook Caviar d’Aubergine, Crépinettes d’Agneau and Soufflé au Citron. This is a very much hands on experience and we’re taught how to shave thin slices of courgette and aubergine using a mandolin, before grilling them and stuffing them with minced lamb. That easy stuff – removing the pulp from lemons before filling them with the soufflé mix is more complicated.  Best of all, at the end, we get to eat what we’ve cooked in a private dining room with the chef.

Trouville

Just five minutes’ walk across the River Touques from Deauville is the ancient Viking port of Trouville. The fishing boats still go out every day and it’s worth visiting the large covered fish market to sample plates of seafood with a glass of wine. The town is chock full of restaurants, all offering similar fare at reasonable prices.

This was a seaside resort before Deauville was even thought of and, in many ways, it’s like a living museum of the seaside.  Belle Époque villas, in all architectural styles, climb up the hill in front of the sea and the boardwalk, the first in Normandy, was built in 1867 and is still going strong. Many of the famous hotels have become apartments but the jewel of Trouville, the 5* Hotel des Cures Marines, next to the Casino, has been recently restored and is immaculate.

Honfleur

Half an hour’s drive way is the charming medieval port of Honfleur, its characteristic tall thin houses with slate-covered frontages, painted many times by artists, including Gustave Courbet, Eugène Boudin and Claude Monet. You can see some of these in the Eugène Boudin Museum but if you want more than you’ll have to wait for the Impressionist Festival next year. Sainte Catherine’s church, started in 1468, is the largest wooden church with a separate bell-tower in France. Inside, the roof resembles an upturned boat, hardly surprising since it was constructed by Honfleur’s ship builders. The area surrounding the church is a warren of cobbled streets stuffed with art galleries and craft shops.

Père Magloire Calvados Distillery Pont l’Evêque

Calvados of course is synonymous with Normandy and if you fancy getting acquainted with the stuff, then Père Magloire offers guided tastings.  They don’t distill the calvados here but the cellars are where they age it in French oak barrels. Their Fine V.S. is only two years old so it’s the freshest and fruitiest in their range. V.S.O.P is four years in the barrel and is already much smoother.  My favourite is the X.O. as its nine years give it the perfect balance between the fruitiness of the apple and the flavours absorbed from the barrel.  There are hints of vanilla and it has an impressive aftertaste.

Flights are twice a week, on Monday and Friday, so ideal for the weekend or a longer stay. As well as traditional seaside activities, Deauville has a covered Olympic sized swimming pool right by the beach. There’s the race course, with polo in August, excellent golf courses, boat trips with Deauville Yacht Club and of course two Casinos, if you fancy a flutter. Cultural events like the American Film Festival take place during the summer and, best of all, there are restaurants to suite every taste and wallet. Go there for a taste of real France and visit the Sunday market, sprawling on the quay at Trouville, and bring home of those flavours.

Rupert Recommends

• Deauville has information about the town.
• Trouville has information about the town.
• The Calvados Tourist Board has information about the area.
• Normandy has information about the region.
• Ryanair flies direct from London Stansted to Deauville on Mondays and Fridays.
• The Hôtel du Golf Barrière is just outside the town but has its own dedicated golf course and its Le Lassay restaurant is impressive. www.lucienbarriere.com
• The Royal Barrière cooking class costs 70€ per person, including lunch with wine.