Another spring, another happily free weekend spent on the Norman coast. This time we took the train up to Deauville, the fabled "Parisian Riviera" (the closest sea resort to Paris). Just think of it as a really, really windy and cold version of Cannes and Monaco combined, with way less people. Casinos, golf courses, vacation hotels and homes, yacht clubs, and loads of chic shopping, and what did we do? We picnicked our meals and walked all over the place!
The promenade along the beach tells Tinseltown tales of many a summering cinema star. Hundreds of old and new Hollywood names grace the gates of the beach closets that lead out onto the sand. The Deauville American Film Festival has been going strong since 1975, completing every summer tourist season in early September.
I only need an umbrella. And some rain. |
Why?!?! Why aren't these places for sale?! Or already foreclosed on by the local banks?! How can these still savable structures go entirely unnoticed and uncared for by the community?!
But this one particular castle - as it cannot simply go by the menial term of "mansion" - while at the beginning of its fall into ruins, still had surveillance cameras posted around the property. I hope they spotted us crying at the feet of the steps. The cameras were the only thing that prevented me from snooping like a real sleuth and Nancy Drew-ing my way to the top balcony. Nancy never had to deal with technology.
There was zero information around the property as to the owners, just some evidence of a time period as an apartment building (old mailboxes), and the fact that the builders were really into the castle look, gargoyles, byzantine arches, and all. But after the magic of Google and a few key search terms, here is what we have come to know.
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to La Tour Carrée (The Square Tower), or more familiarly known as, La Villa Mors.
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Image credit: www.delcampe.net |
It's one of those "homes" where both the front and the back of it could be considered the grand entrance. In the picture above, the beach and sea are behind this part of the house (what today, we would consider the backyard). In the picture below, what we believe to be the front of the house faces the sea. I wonder if that car parked along the side was manufactured by Mors?
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Image credit: www.delcampe.net |
Image credit: Marc Vilas |
Good adventures lead to discoveries.
Great adventures lead to mysteries.
I adore the Gene Kelly photo! Even without the rain and umbrella it's still pretty perfect. :) And I laughed out loud at the Nancy Drew part... too true!
ReplyDeleteBonjour,
ReplyDeletePouvez vous me traduire " Le SwagVil " s'il vous plaît?
Moi aussi j'aimerais bien en savoir davantage sur cette Tour Carrée ou Villa Mors.
Il est bien dommage qu'une telle demeure soit abandonnée. .. :-(
Bonjour!
Delete"Le SwagVil" est un mélange de mon nom, "Swagerty," et le nom de mon mari, "Vilas." Ensemble, nous sommes: "SwagVil!"
Il y a des belles maisons partout en France qui sont abandonnées, et c'est vraiment triste!
Merci pour votre question!
Hehe, love your investigative work! For some reason while I was reading this, it made me think of the Notebook when they go into an abandoned house (I feel like it was by the beach, but I could be wrong). What an interesting history behind that mansion!
ReplyDeletewww.simplysaratravel.com
I WISH we could have gone inside! Someday... :)
DeleteI love Deauville, there's a sense of faded grandeur in the area that just oozes atmosphere and your post captures it beautifully. I love the extra twist you give taking us on the historical tour of that lovely old castle and finding out its history. I hope it becomes Villa SwagVil one day! Thanks for linking up again Christy.
ReplyDelete"Faded grandeur" is spot-on about Deauville. Thank you for your compliments! If we can get any "SwagVil" location going anywhere by a beach, we'll be set!
DeleteWhat a great find! I was in Le Touquet about this time for the last couple of years and it has a similar vibe. I was thinking Kennedys and the Hamptons.
ReplyDeleteHi Sally! Totally Kennedys/Hamptons! It was so cool to see all of the movie star names, a lot like the Hollywood Stars sidewalks!
DeleteThanks for stopping by!
I have never been to Deauville, although I have made a few trips to Normandy. It is pretty far from the Southwest of France. Great writing in this post...
ReplyDeleteHi Betty! Thank you for your compliment! Deauville really is a perfect weekend getaway because it's small, calm, and very beautiful. I hope you get there someday!
DeleteYou came up to Normandy and you didn't say hello!! Maybe next time you visit we can tempt you into the beautiful countryside where we live. #AllAboutFrance
ReplyDeleteHaha, sorry we missed you! Thanks for reading, and the next time we're in Normandy, we'll let you know! :)
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