Les Franciscaines, Deauville

 

Yesterday I was afraid I’d miss the meetup spot for a presse trip to Deauville

But after wandering in circles, it was obvious. I was early. Out came the sketchbook ✍️

It looks a bit like the stunning ceiling in the central hall of Les Franciscaines our destination in Deauville.

From the outside of the vibrant cultural center, 

It still retains elements of its former self, a Franciscan nunnery, a hospital in 1914, even an orphanage.

Deauville took over the institute in 2012, holding a design contest won and completed in 2015 by L'agence Moatti & Rivière. 

We were there to meet the artists of Les Franciscaines’ newest exhibition opening today, PIERRE ET GILLES. 

Hard to stop looking at the walls, cleverly papered with old Deauville postcards. 

Upstairs the artists gave us the grand tour. (One of us had on appropriately blue- green nail polish.)

Pierre et Gilles marine world focused artworks.

Afterwards we wandered down through handsome study halls

And libraries.

To a delicious summery lunch 

Waiting for us.

The center has their own delightful restaurant for visitors. 

Le Réfectoire - everything was perfection.

Les Franciscaines is a 10 minute walk to Deauville’s plages/beach 🏖️ 

How do I always find ice cream 🍦 wherever I go?

The streets to the beach are full of classic Norman split-timber small mansions - well worth the walk.

Later I visited the Sebastião Salgado photography exhibit on

The ground floor. Do you know his superb work?

Renown both as an environmentalist and a humanist. Sadly Sebastião Salgado passed away yesterday at 81.

Quite a full day trip. Below, a painting by André Hambourg from Les Franciscaines’ collection. Why not visit Deauville on your next trip. A 2-hour train trip from Paris. And there is a race track 🏇behind the center. Next trip 👍