The town of Alençon, once the seat of the Dukes of Normandy and today the capital of the Orne, has been famous for its unique lace pattern since the 17th century. It also boasts a rich architectural and cultural heritage.
Alençon's old quarter, a source of inspiration for famous French novelist Honoré de Balzac, is dotted with half-timbered houses and mansions with wrought-iron balconies, making it a lovely place to explore. Among the must-see places of interest are Notre-Dame church with its superb early 16th-century Flamboyant Gothic-style porch; the Maison d'Ozé, the Duke of Alençon's former residence, with its conservation orchard; the Château des Ducs and its machicolated towers; and the birth house of St Theresa of Lisieux and its chapel. Another leading attraction in the town is the fine art and lace museum (Musée des Beaux-Arts et de la Dentelle) housed in the old Jesuit college and home to sumptuous collections of lace and paintings.
A colourful market selling delicious produce takes place every Thursday and Saturday morning on Place de la Magdeleine at the foot of Notre-Dame church.
At the junction of the Regional Parks of Perche and Normandy-Maine, Alençon draws its features between rural district, preserved nature and urbanization. Located at the confluence of the Sarthe and the Briante, the city has gone from a simple ford in antiquity to a city of importance, prefecture of the Orne, world famous for its lace at the point of Alençon, but the history has been turbulent: a fortified town in the 11th century, Alençon enjoyed radiant hours with Marguerite de Lorraine in the 15th century. The Reformation finds its cradle in the city and the Catholics flee from the city. It was in 1665 that Colbert founded the royal lace factories. The legend was born. During the 19th century, the city turned towards industrialization and took off economically. It was also during this period that many famous people left their mark on the city. Starting with Baudelaire who had his "Fleurs du Mal" printed at Alençon in 1857. Then Balzac stayed there to write two of his works: "Le cabinet des antiques" and "La Vieille Fille". Finally, Alençon saw the birth of Thérèse Martin, better known as Sainte-Thérèse-de-Lisieux.
You will have a program loaded at Alençon. Among the must-sees, you absolutely must visit the Lace Museum of Alençon. Inspired by the Point of Venice, the Point of Alençon is a know-how inscribed on the representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO in 2010. This technique requires hours of patience. It takes between 7 and 15 hours of work to create a surface equivalent to a postage stamp. An emblematic figure of Alençon, Sainte-Thérèse-de-Lisieux was born in the city and her birthplace can be visited. Another place steeped in history to discover absolutely, the Notre-Dame d'Alençon basilica. Of Gothic architecture, the imposing building listed as a Historic Monument sits proudly in the town centre.
Alençon has 31 Listed Monuments. You can choose to discover them on guided tours or go for a walk through the streets of the city. Among them are to be seen absolutely, the Jesuit church adjoining the college founded by the Jesuits in 1620, the Café de la Renaissance whose interior is truly divine and offers a quite exceptional second renaissance decor, the hall at the wheat, a circular building topped by an impressive glass dome, the castle of the Dukes of Alençon which is actually the entrance pavilion to the castle, and the house of Ozé, a medieval residence built in 1450. To visit Alençon, you can also opt for the bike. Many routes are available. And for fun, treat yourself to a tour of the city in a horse-drawn carriage. This type of tour is available in July and August.
Sports facilities are not lacking in the city. You can thus, according to your desires, play a round of golf on the green of the hippodrome golf course or enjoy a dip in the swimming pools of the aquatic center of Alençon. You will have something to distract you!
Throughout the year, various markets are held in the town of Alençon:
- Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: weekly market on Place de la Paix.
- Thursdays and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: weekly markets on the Place de la Magdeleine.
- Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: weekly market on Place du Point du Jour.
At the beginning of March, the Alençon Ornexpo fair invites itself for 4 consecutive days. You will be able to browse different stands in fields as diverse and varied as wine, habitat and gastronomy among others.
In June, the 24 hours of biodiversity take place. On the program, walks and discoveries in the city.
In July, the world folklore festival takes place with many artists from different countries as well as the Echappées Belles festival with a range of varied live shows at attractive prices.
Exposition : Rotulus, un Patrimoine Médiéval à Dérouler
- From 5 february to 28 april 2024
- 6 Avenue de Basingstoke
- An interdisciplinary project funded between 2019 and 2022 by the Agence Nationale de la Recherche and led by the Université - De Lorraine, Rotulus has launched dozens of researchers in search of medieval scrolls - or rotuli - preserved - In heritage collections. - Alongside the panel exhibition produced by the research team at the end of their study program, the Archives départementales de l ? Orne invite you to discover their original parchment scrolls and numerous medieval documents that provide a better understanding of their form and uses. Most of these documents come from the archives of Orne ? S abbeys. - Why the scroll form ? How is it made ? What information does it contain ? From the cartulary roll, - A security copy of important deeds, to inventory scrolls, not forgetting legal procedure scrolls, come and discover a wealth of information on the uses of writing and the manufacture of these media. - Facsimiles of rotuli and a codex, the manuscript made up of sheets assembled into notebooks, as well as digital copies that will allow you to physically or virtually manipulate the rolls. - In a lecture, Thomas Roche, head curator of the French National Archives, will present the study he has carried out on the scroll-cartulary of the priory of Saint-Martin-du-Vieux-Bellême, with a view to its publication. - Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Sunday, 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Tordre la Lumière - Exposition Temporaire au Musée des Beaux-Arts et de la Dentelle
- From 5 march to 26 may 2024
- 12 Rue du Capitaine Charles Aveline
- Twisting light - Temporary exhibition at the Musée des Beaux-Arts et de la Dentelle. - To create her modular sculptures, Isabelle SENLY lets the curvature of rattan, the crinkling of resin-coated paper and the diffusion of delicately colored light through the opacity and transparency of the material express themselves. This apparent serendipity is mastered by the artist, who weaves, stretches, sews, folds and gives birth to forms inspired by nature, concealing genuine plant and textile inlays. Her work inevitably echoes lace, with its interplay of light and shadow, transparency and folds, and the ornamental vocabulary drawn from nature. What's more, the combination of shapes sometimes gives rise to costume pieces, veritable portable sculptures that allow us to inhabit space.
Les Multiples Visages du Patrimoine Français en Photos
- From 13 march to 22 may 2024
- Rue Honoré de Balzac
- As part of its membership of the Ville et Métiers d ? Art network, Alençon invites you to discover the many facets of French heritage. - This exhibition is based on the photographic exhibition by France. Patrimoines et Territoires d ? exception, an association that federates national networks such as Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, Les Sites et Cités remarquables de France, Les Petites Cités de Caractères de France, Ville et Métiers d ? Art, and others. - Of all the photographs presented for the 1st time by the Senate, on the gates of the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris from March 5 to July 3,2022,17 have been selected. They focus in particular on arts and crafts and exceptional know-how : Baccarat crystal, Calais-Caudry lace, Longwy enamels, Aubusson tapestry, and more. - The exhibition is rounded off by five photographs of Alençon stitch lace, which has been inscribed on UNESCO ? S Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since November 16,2010. - Parc Simone Veil, 61000 Alençon
La Grande Randonnée Vers Paris
- From 13 to 25 april 2024
- 4, Rue de Bretagne
- The Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre, which has been awarded the "Terre de Jeux" label, is organizing the "Grande Randonnée vers Paris" during the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The aim of this event is for hikers from all over France to converge on the capital in spring 2024, following the GR hiking trails. - The Comité Départemental de Randonnée Pédestre de l'Orne (CDRP 61) is involved in this project, organizing a 12-day (190 km) itinerary along the GR®22 between La Fosse Arthour and Saint-Maurice-lès-Charencey. - In addition to these 12 stages on the GR®22, there will be 5 stages on the GR®36 between La Forêt-Auvray and Carrefour des Arcis, in the Ecouves forest. - Between April 14 and April 25,2024,2 ambassadors from Orne, accompanied by a Breton ambassador from Brest and a Manche ambassador, will enter Orne at La Fosse Arthour and hand over to those from Eure at Saint-Maurice-lès-Charencey. - The relay will then continue to Paris, where the rendezvous is set for May 10,2024. - Everyone is invited to join the various stages proposed each day ! - Number of registrations limited to 50 people per stage. The CDRP 61 does not guarantee the return of hikers to the starting point of the stage.
Concert de Chinese Man + 1e Partie : Aalas
- On 26 april 2024
- 171 Rue de Bretagne
- Chinese Man - A collective from the south of France, the Chinese Man trio, comprising High Ku, Matteo & Sly, have been performing independently since their inception on their own label, Chinese Man Records. Formed in 2004, they draw their influences primarily from hip-hop and trip-hop, but also from dub, electro and reggae. - The Chinese Man experience can be discovered on vinyl and extended live ? Seeing and experiencing Chinese Man live is always a unique and captivating experience, inviting spectators to let go. Having played over 600 dates around the globe, the band are back in 2024 for their 3rd album, with an even more immersive and explosive live show ! - + Part 1 : Aalas - Aalas is an electronic music producer and multi-instrumentalist. - His airy pop melodies soar above a jungle of trance and percussive sounds. Aalas travels through the treetops and plunges into the heart of the forest to build a mystical universe, inviting us to let go. - A performance combining machines, ambient synthesizers, organic instruments and ethereal vocals for a live set that becomes increasingly danceable as night falls.
Alençon, de l'Occupation à la Libération, 1940-1944
- On 4 may 2024
- Rue Étoupée
- This tour of Alençon during the Second World War will evoke the dark periods the town went through, during the occupation and under the bombardments, but will also recall the courage and sacrifice of many members of the Resistance, and, finally, the joy of the Alençonnais at being liberated by General Leclerc and his Second Armored Division. - Tour starts in the garden of the Maison d'Ozé (behind the Basilique Notre Dame d'Alençon)
Le Ciné-Concert Dont Vous Êtes le Héros
- On 14 may 2024
- 171 Rue de Bretagne
- These are sonic encounters between the musicians and the films, which must be perfectly matched. During the performance, they are also and above all important appointments for the spectators, as they create emotion, laughter, surprise and amazement. The spectator is active. Constantly solicited by these moments, cine-concert is by its very nature participatory. - The ambition of this project is to make an entire show out of this exchange between stage and auditorium. Two actor-musicians on stage and one in the audience. The staging of this show will be in the direction of comedy - slight shifts occur in relation to the reality of the situations.
Concert Afterwork Chansigné de La Pianiste Rouge
- On 16 may 2024
- 171 Rue de Bretagne
- A singer-songwriter perched on a mobile grand piano equipped with electronic instruments, the Pianiste Rouge invites us to discover a song with big lyrics that doesn't mince its feelings. - With groove in her ankles and fantasy in her fingers, she scatters her tender and boisterous compositions, bewitching us with her deep, intimate voice, laughing at herself to better speak of us. - A red dress that levitates then falls, a music box that invites the spectator to fall back into childhood, a piano that trembles ? Delicacy and audacity pick us up, move us, relieve us too. - In this dense, all-encompassing show, sung and spoken voices, committed and exuberant lyrics, songs of love and anger cross and intertwine through a boisterous, generous personality who will be remembered for a long time to come.
Lueurs à l'Hôtel du Département
- From 17 to 19 may 2024
- Hôtel du Département - Cour d'Honneur
- The Hôtel du Département de l'Orne will be opening its doors to you to illuminate its outdoor spaces. Cross the Cour d ? Honneur, and then head for the gardens, where you'll discover an original light trail. Take a stroll and be amazed !
Saint-Roch en Lumière
- On 18 may 2024
- 71 rue de l'Eglise
- Visit Saint-Roch de Courteille church, illuminated inside and out. This church has been saved from neglect by a group of enthusiasts. Its 19th-century stained glass windows and woodwork will be illuminated.