Deauville

Deauville, with its elegant harbour, glamorous film festival, and stylish hotels, is one of the most upscale areas in northwestern France. This luxurious resort town borders the Côte Fleurie, whose golden sands are framed by a bustling boardwalk teeming with pedestrians and rollerbladers. Several chic villas overlook the water.

With horse races, yachts bobbing on the shimmering water, and vintage car shows, the area is deeply in touch with its 19th-century roots. There’s an air of old Hollywood here, and you can make like a celebrity yourself at the posh Villa Strassburger, a half-timbered villa with classic Anglo-Norman architecture.