Positioned on Normandy’s Cote Fleurie, Houlgate is a small beachside resort where the River Dives meets the English Channel. It’s renowned for its landmark casino and namesake beach, set on the doorstep of a produce market that dates back six centuries.
Things to do in Houlgate
If you’re visiting in the summer months, you can enjoy a day on the wide sands of the Plage d’Houlgate or head to the adjacent Plage du Casino. It’s named after the magnificent Belle Epoque building that backs the waterfront and regularly hosts big-name Parisian artists and performance troupes. For sweeping views across the beach, hike up the small hill rising to the east.
On the outskirts of Houlgate is the Château de Beuzeval, a luxurious 19th-century manor house built on the site of a medieval motte-and-bailey castle. It was occupied by the Germans during World War II, with bunkers and trenches from their headquarters still in existence today. While the castle is now private property, it can be admired from the fairways of the Golf Blue Green Houlgate course.
Coincide your visit with the weekly market at the Halles Médiévales de Dives-sur-mer, which are thought to have been constructed between 1405 and 1423. Marvel at the 66 oak pillars that support its frame while shopping for fresh produce at one of the many stalls or attend one of the exhibitions and festivals that take place here.
Getting around Houlgate
Houlgate is around 30 minutes’ drive from Caen and 40 minutes from Caen-Carpiquet Airport, which has flights to destinations across France. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is 2.5 hours away. Regular trains connect to the Gare de Houlgate and the centre of the town is compact enough to explore on foot.