A honeycomb structure is formed of a porous ceramic material and has pores in the structural body, wherein cerium dioxide is present in a state that it is incorporated in the structural body in the ceramic material, and at least a part of cerium dioxide particles is exposed on pore surfaces of the pores. The ceramic material includes cordierite or silicon carbide as a major component, the ratio of the cerium dioxide to the ceramic material is in the range of from 1.0% by mass to 10.0% by mass, and at least a part of catalyst particulates of a platinum group element such as platinum or palladium is loaded by the cerium dioxide particles.