Meeting with
PHILIPPE AUGIER
passion and action at the core
FOU! sat down with the Mayor of Deauville to hear his vision for the city and the region. Passionate about the mission he has led since 2001 and deeply in love with the Pays d’Auge, he shares his approach, his achievements, his pride, and his sharp insight into both the present and the future. A look back at 25 years of visionary and passionate commitment to Deauville and its territory.
FOU!: One of Deauville’s undeniable charms is that it’s lively all year round. Do you take some credit for that?
Philippe Augier: From the very beginning, my top priority was to make this seaside town vibrant and attractive all year, not just in the summer and on weekends. For 25 years, every project and action plan we’ve launched has been guided by that position, which still stands strong today. In that spirit, we have created high-quality events in two areas that, to me, are the most engaging and unifying: sport and culture.
What role does culture play in your policy?
A central role, it’s at the heart of our commitment. I’m passionate about culture and convinced of its extraordinary power. I truly believe it is a driving force for equal opportunity. The richness
and variety of our cultural events reflect that conviction. We’re about to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Easter Classical Music Festival, one of the first projects I led! The opening of Les Franciscaines in 2021 is also a great source of pride. That project embodies 25 years of our cultural policy. Les Franciscaines has quickly become a Deauville institution, a key intergenerational cultural hub as well as an artistic reference point.
And what about sports?
The other major pillar of our action is sports, both its local practice and our high-level facilities. I deeply believe that through sports, we build community and transmit values such as teamwork,
respect, and pushing one’s limits.
What other assets make the city attractive today?
Beyond the year-round cultural and sports events, if I had to
highlight just a few of our city’s key assets, I’d mention what I call its ‘unity of place’: wherever you are in Deauville, everything is within reach, the beach, the shops, all the points of interest and activities. The wide range and quality of equipment and infrastructure right in the city center is another major strength. These benefit full-time residents most of all, and that’s my top concern: improving their quality of life.
People often say Deauville feels like a protected bubble. Do you agree?
As Mayor, I’m thrilled to hear that. Together with local officials and municipal teams, we’ve done everything possible to make life pleasant and to protect our heritage. The town’s setting, its listed villas, and the seafront have been preserved, unlike in some
other seaside resorts. We’ve set up a heritage protection zone and adopted an intercommunal urban planning scheme to block any absurd projects. Deauville has kept its charm; you can feel the urban, architectural, and seaside harmony here. Like music, harmony isn’t made of just one note. We respect the town’s history while staying open to contemporary renovation, you can’t live stuck in the past.
How does the town tackle environmental issues?
Sustainable development challenges are deeply woven into our policies especially when it comes to pollution, plastic reduction, and promoting soft mobility. We live in a green city that’s rooted
in ecological transition. Deauville is also closely tied to the richness of its surrounding countryside. Our connection to the Pays d’Auge countryside is a huge asset: the coastal and rural products and activities complement each other perfectly. We too have our own ‘green belt’ around Deauville and its outskirts! And we’re always striving to deepen our ties and collaborations.
The Deauville Peninsula is a major achievement of your term.
What have you learned from it?
The Peninsula quickly became a new living space along the
marina quays, valued for its housing, carefully selected shops, and its pedestrian promenade facing the boats. This large-scale project shows the importance of daring, having an entrepreneurial
mindset, and being able to follow through on your goals, for the people and the region. It also requires listening, dialogue, and working for the common good, maintaining the almost family-like spirit that makes our management style in Deauville so unique.
These are the values I apply daily as Mayor and hope to pass on.
What are the main challenges Deauville faces?
Our responsibility is to prepare the city for a new world. To me,
there are two priority directions: digital transformation and artificial intelligence, and ecological transition.
Are you a happy Mayor?
Yes, I am, and I say that without hesitation, thanks to the projects we pursue and the challenges that lie ahead. Above all, I’m happy to see that every day, we continue building connections and interactions between communities, generations, and all the people of Deauville, both residents and visitors. That human dimension means a lot to me. My happiness lies in being close to those who benefit from what we do for them.
Interview by Axelle Simon
