Les Planches (The Boardwalk)
About Les Planches (The Boardwalk)
Les Planches is a 643-meter wooden boardwalk along Deauville beach, built in 1923 and inaugurated in 1924 as part of architect Charles Adda's Art Deco bathing complex. The promenade features 450 beach cabins with names of American film stars painted between them, a tradition started in 1987 to honor guests of the Deauville American Film Festival held each September since 1975. Over 200 celebrities have their names displayed, including Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Clint Eastwood, earning it comparisons to Hollywood Boulevard. The boardwalk gained international fame through Claude Lelouch's 1966 film 'A Man and a Woman', which won the Palme d'Or and two Oscars. Made of rot-resistant azobé wood from West Africa, sections are replaced annually to maintain the structure. Free to access around the clock, the promenade offers views of the English Channel and direct beach access. The Deauville town hall bells play the famous Francis Lai theme from Lelouch's film daily at 6pm.
Interesting Facts
Joséphine Baker famously strolled along Les Planches in 1930 with her pet cheetah on a leash, causing a sensation among the seaside visitors. The entertainer was known for her exotic pets and flamboyant appearances at French resort towns.
Harvey Weinstein's name was removed from the beach cabins on October 16, 2017, following sexual assault allegations. He remains the only person to have been erased from Les Planches since the celebrity naming tradition began in 1987.
Claude Lelouch discovered Deauville by accident in winter 1965 when he drove aimlessly from Paris after a failed film screening. He slept in his Mercedes on the beach and was awakened at dawn by a woman walking with a child and dog—a scene that inspired 'A Man and a Woman'. A square on Les Planches now bears his name at the exact spot where he filmed the famous Ford Mustang scene.
Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Location & Practical Info
Address
Promenade des Planches, 14800 Deauville, France
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