Grand Hotel of Cabourg (Grand Hotel de Cabourg)
About Grand Hotel of Cabourg (Grand Hotel de Cabourg)
The Grand Hôtel de Cabourg is a Belle Époque luxury hotel built in 1907 by architects Lucien Viraut and Émile Mauclerc. The hotel is famous for its connection to Marcel Proust, who stayed here approximately 500 nights between 1907 and 1914, always in Room 414. Proust used the hotel as the primary inspiration for the fictional Grand-Hôtel de Balbec in his masterpiece 'In Search of Lost Time,' writing many pages of this work here. The building retains its original 1907 façade and interior design featuring marble, crystal, and velvet in warm violet and gold tones. Classified as a Historic Monument, the hotel remains a working 5-star property with direct beach access. Visitors can admire the exterior architecture and the Promenade Marcel Proust along the seafront. During European Heritage Days in September, special tours of Room 414 may be available by reservation.
Interesting Facts
Proust discovered the Grand Hôtel through a Figaro newspaper article on July 10, 1907 and visited shortly after. He would book adjacent rooms on either side of 414 to ensure complete silence, as he wrote through the night and slept during the day, maintaining his Parisian routine even at the seaside.
The final scene of the hit French film 'Intouchables' (2011) was filmed in the hotel's Restaurant Le Balbec. The hotel also hosted filming for 'La Boum' (1980), Sophie Marceau's debut film. Every year, the Cabourg Romantic Film Festival rolls out its red carpet at the hotel entrance.
A giant golden statue called 'Swann d'Or' stands in the Casino Gardens facing the hotel. Named after the main character in Proust's novel, it serves as the trophy for the Cabourg Romantic Film Festival, which has been held here for over 40 years.
Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Location & Practical Info
Address
Jardins du Casino, 14390 Cabourg, France
Day Routes
Explore all day routesThese carefully curated day itineraries include this attraction and show you exactly how to plan your visit, including transport, timing, and what else to see nearby.
Want to visit this attraction? These routes show you how to get here and what to combine it with.
