Deauville has long been a center for equestrian events, with its first hippodrome completed in 1864. Today, a covered complex allows international-level racing all year. Deauville is also a center for polo, show-jumping and horse auctions. Lexington, Kentucky, another horse town, is one of its "sister cities."
The American Film Festival has been held in Deauville since 1975, and in 1999 the Asian Film Festival made its debut there. A few notable winners of the American festival's Grand Prix have been "Little Miss Sunshine" in 2006, "Crash" in 2005 and "Being John Malkovich" in 1999.
Deauville's famous casino was built in 1912 and is the fourth largest in France. It offers a full range of table games as well as 320 slot machines.
Deauville is home to two annual music festivals: the Easter Music Festival started in 1997 and the August Music Festival that began in 2002.
What started out as a small village in Normandy quickly turned into a summer resort town for the rich international set in the early 1900s. Over the years, it has expanded and now receives visitors all year.
