Les Cents Marches, Historic stairs in Houlgate, France
Les Cents Marches is a stone staircase connecting the upper residential area of Houlgate to the beach through steps built directly into the coastal terrain. The structure spans 139 steps that descend the slope between the town and the shoreline.
The staircase was built in 1910 to provide direct access from the Belle Epoque villas to the beach as Houlgate developed into a fashionable seaside resort. Its construction reflects the growth and modernization of the town during this period.
The staircase serves as a meeting point where residents and visitors naturally encounter each other while moving between the town and the shore. It functions as part of the daily rhythm of life in Houlgate, connecting two distinct landscapes and communities.
The staircase requires regular maintenance since it is built on soft ground and undergoes continuous repairs due to heavy use. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear and be aware that the steps can become slippery depending on weather conditions.
Despite being called Les Cents Marches, meaning hundred steps, the staircase actually contains 139 steps from bottom to top. This discrepancy is one of the place's charming quirks that many visitors only discover when they start counting.
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