Discover Houlgate: villas and seaside resort heritage

Houlgate combines a distinctive seaside resort heritage with a protected natural area and various ways to get to know the town on foot or through cultural events. This gives you several distinct highlights to consider when planning your trip: preserved villas and historic landmarks, the Vaches-Noires cliffs, walking trails, or festivals. You can therefore assess Houlgate based on whether you are more interested in architecture and local history, nature and outdoor activities, or a particular type of event.

Seaside resort heritage and local history

Houlgate is part of the Ville Belle Époque network. Its seaside resort heritage includes 300 preserved villas. The former Grand Hôtel de Houlgate was completed in 1858 and listed as a historic monument in 2000. The villas represent the breadth of the town’s architectural heritage, while the former Grand Hôtel is a single, precisely dated landmark.

The Promenade Roland Garros was named in 1988 after aviator Roland Garros. On 6 September 1912, he took off from the beach in front of the “Les Mouettes” villa in an attempt to break the altitude world record of 4,900 metres. This links the town’s history to a named promenade and a specific, locally situated flight. The chronology is clear: Garros’s flight in 1912 was followed by the promenade being named after him in 1988.

Trails and explorations

The Terre de Jeux 2024 trail passes between stairways and villas, offering a way to discover Houlgate’s heritage. You can explore the seaside resort’s history and heritage independently on the villa tour. Houlgate also has walking and hiking trails. The two cultural routes offer different perspectives: the Terre de Jeux trail passes between stairways and villas, while the villa tour lets you explore the seaside resort’s history independently.

Vaches-Noires cliffs

The Vaches-Noires cliffs are another landscape highlight. They form a remarkable natural area designated as a ZNIEFF and extend across Houlgate, Gonneville-sur-Mer, Auberville and Villers-sur-Mer in the Calvados département of Normandy. The natural area therefore extends beyond Houlgate. There is a clear restriction for visitors: access to the cliffs is prohibited, but you can view them from the beach. A 12 km discovery trail for the Vaches-Noires cliffs is available to download and at tourist offices.

Festivals and cultural programme

Events also vary in theme and format. Houlgate Plein Vent is an annual international kite festival, featuring introductory and kite-building workshops. At the Houlgate European Film Festival, actors, directors and critics exchange ideas with audiences during the “Leçons du cinéma” sessions, explaining the finer points and background of their profession. Kites and workshops therefore offer a contrast with discussions about film professions. Since 2021, Houlgate has also hosted the Houlgate Festival & Baie de Scène. If one of the festivals is a deciding factor for your trip, check the event dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: Aignerville, Blay, Gonneville-en-Auge, Vaudeloges, Lessard-Et-Le-Chêne, Magny-Le-Freule, Surrain, Bernières-Sur-Mer.

Go to the main travel overview: Calvados.