Proustian visit to Cabourg and its surroundings

Stay of the Société des Amis de Marcel Proust in Cabourg

Friday evening 13 September - Sunday afternoon 15 September 2019

"Having learned that there was, in Cabourg, a hotel, the most comfortable on the whole coast, I went there.
Since I have been here, I have been able to get up and go out every day, which had not happened to me for six years."

Letter to Mme de Caraman-Chimay, Marcel Proust, summer 1907

INTRODUCTION

From 1907 onwards, Marcel Proust travelled every summer to Cabourg, staying at the newly built Grand Hôtel, where the author could stay without fear of damaging his fragile health. Immortalised under the name Balbec (the place name most often cited in Marcel Proust's work), Cabourg provides the setting for "Nom de Pays : le Pays", the second part of À l’ombre des jeunes filles en fleurs, the centenary of whose prix Goncourt we celebrate this year.

The Société des Amis de Marcel Proust invites you to discover these places that inspired the writer, on the occasion of a discovery weekend organised in collaboration with Jean-Paul Henriet, former mayor of Cabourg and member of the SAMP's Board of Directors.

PROGRAMME

Friday evening 13 September
	Free arrival at the hotels chosen by participants.
Saturday 14 September
	morning Visit to Cabourg: history of the creation of the seaside resort. Town planning. Successive grand hotels and casinos. The seafront promenade. The Casino Gardens. Visit to the reconstructed room (if available!). The villas of Proust's friends during his last stay (1907 – 1914). Readings. lunch group lunch afternoon Visit to Marcel Proust's florist in Houlgate (maison Lerossignol) then to the manoir de Cantepie, which belonged to a certain Monsieur… Swann, near… Cambremer. Free time in Cabourg at the end of the afternoon. Evening "Official" dinner in the Salon 1900 of the Grand Hôtel, comprising starter, main course and dessert, with wines, mineral water and coffee included.
Sunday 15 September
	morning Passing by the last surviving station of the « Tacot » (or « Decauville » or « Transatlantique ») railway, and by the Golf Course and Racecourse frequented by Marcel Proust. Tribute at the graves of Mlles Colette and Hélène d’Alton. Readings. A brief stop at the first house liberated in France, on 5 June 1944, at Pegasus Bridge. At the end of the morning, visit to Dives-sur-Mer: church, stained-glass window of the miracle, plaque of William the Conqueror's companions, lepers' hole, covered market, Hostellerie Guillaume-le-Conquérant (with readings). lunch Lunch in the old kitchen of the ancient hostelry. afternoon Visit to Bayeux Cathedral, whose nave strongly inspired Proust's depiction of Balbec's "Persian" church. Readings. Return, for those who have time, via the château de Balleroy (exterior only) then a visit to the Abbaye aux Hommes in Caen. A "modern" glimpse of the "clochers de Martinville". Readings. end of programme Around 6:30pm

PRICES

Members: 130€
Non-members: 145€

These prices include Saturday lunch, Saturday dinner, Sunday lunch and the visits.
They do not cover accommodation on site (see the "accommodation" section below) or travel to/from Cabourg.

REGISTRATIONS

Registrations are now closed.

ACCOMMODATION

Participants are responsible for making all necessary arrangements regarding accommodation and travel bookings.
For guidance, interested parties may contact the following hotels (in descending order of star rating):

Grand Hôtel de Cabourg ***** (on the seafront): 02 31 91 01 79
Hôtel Mercure de Cabourg *** (4 minutes by car from the Grand Hôtel): 02 31 24 04 04
Hôtel du Golf ** Logis de France Cabourg (5 minutes): 02 31 24 12 34
Hôtel Kyriad Prestige Résidence ** Dives-sur-Mer (5 minutes from the Grand Hôtel): 02 31 91 07 20

QUESTIONS

For any question relating to this trip, simply send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..