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.
Restitutions Théâtre
- From 7 to 20 june 2024
- 15 Rue Jullien
- The Conservatoire's student actors take to the stage ! - The annual cycle of public performances by the theater department of the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Départemental de la Communauté Urbaine d ? Alençon (CUA) kicks off on May 7. Students in the 13-14 year-old workshop will open the ball with a performance of Digital Natives by Yann Verburgh (group 1) and La Dispute by Mohamed El Khatib (group 2). - Performances will continue with Cycle 2 and Cycle 1 students, the Classes à Horaires Aménagés Théâtre (5th, 4th and 3rd year CHAT), and the 10-12 workshops (2nd year). - The 2024 session will close with Bravo encore bravo, a one-act misunderstanding performed by students in the 10-12 workshop (1st year). - Full program https://alencon.fr/fileadmin/user_upload/CUA/Agendas-CUA/CUA-Agenda-2024/2024-05/Programme-Restitutions-Theatre-2024.pdf - Free admission - subject to availability
30 ans de La Luciole - Jour 3 : Soirée Festive Pour Vibrer et Danser
- On 14 june 2024
- 171 Rue de Bretagne
- Come and celebrate La Luciole's 30th birthday ! On the third and final day, join us for a festive evening of dancing and excitement ! - On the program : - - 7pm : doors open - - 7.30pm - forecourt : The Songwriters (pop) - - 8.30pm - main hall : Komodrag & The Mounodor (heavy psychedelic rock) - - 9:30pm - forecourt : Radio Byzance (sound-bike reggae world) - - 10:15pm - main hall : Balaphonics & Mary May (afro funk) - - 11:15pm - forecourt : Radio Byzance (sound-bike reggae world) - - 00:15 - main hall : Makoto San (electro bamboo) - + Throughout the evening : photo exhibition looking back over 30 years of music
Concert Opus 61 : Chants du Nord
- On 15 june 2024
- Rue Jullien
- The Conservatoire à Rayonnement Départemental de la Communauté Urbaine d ? Alençon invites you to the last Opus 61 concert of the 2023-2024 season. - To close the 2023-2024 season, the Opus 61 instrumental ensemble offers a program of chamber music in the colors of the North, in different formations : violin/piano, voice/piano and piano four hands. - The Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg will be in the spotlight. A deliberate choice to highlight some of his lesser-known works will enable listeners to discover and appreciate this composer ? S singularly identifiable universe, with its harmonic colors and melodic lines of lyricism both simple and imbued with depth. - With Anne-Marie Concé (mezzo-soprano), Anne Etienvre (piano), Samuel Leloup (violin) and Sylvie Médigue-Courtin (piano)
Fête d'ici et d'Ailleurs
- On 16 june 2024
- 27 Rue Albert 1er
- Every year, the Fête d ? ici et d ? ailleurs (FIA) celebrates world cultures in Alençon (Orne). This year, as in 2022, the 41st edition will take place in the Parc des Promenades on Sunday June 16. - Shows, concerts and catering from the four corners of the globe are just some of the ingredients that make the FIA "a communion of people". And that's exactly the aim of this intercultural gathering, which was set up by a group of local residents following the 1983 Equality March against racism, discrimination and inequality.
Exposition : Le Sport Dans l'Orne
- From 17 june to 15 september 2024
- 6 Avenue de Basingstoke
- In the context of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Archives départementales invite you to delve into the history of sporting activities in Orne since the 19th century : the changing social functions of sport, the emergence and development of disciplines, the role of public authorities, support structures, sports facilities, competitions, not forgetting sportsmen and women - And sportsmen and women, from modest practitioners to champion figures. - This exhibition will draw on the collections held by the Archives départementales, as well as archives entrusted to us as part of the "Grande collecte des archives du sport" (major collection of sports archives) launched in spring 2023. You are therefore invited - To participate in the creation of this exhibition by entrusting us with your documents. - Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm. Sundays, 2:30 pm to 6 pm.
Fête de la Musique - Alençon
- On 21 june 2024
- 4, Rue de Bretagne
- On Friday June 21, the streets of Alençon will be buzzing with the sounds of this not-to-be-missed national event, which this year takes place the day after the summer solstice. - Free of charge and open to all musicians, amateur or professional, this major popular event will showcase the diversity of musical practices and styles : classical, electro, rap, rock, pop, etc. This weekend eve should encourage even more people to take to the streets to play, sing, dance or simply listen to music. - As it does every year, the town of Alençon will be making stages available to musicians who have requested them, to enable them to express themselves and share their passion. Podiums will be set up in Place de la Magdeleine, Place Masson, Rue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny and in the Saint-Léonard district, as well as in many other locations. See the attached program.
On Fait Dans la Dentelle !
- From 22 to 23 june 2024
- Cour carrée de la Dentelle
- Enjoy a unique experience in a friendly, participative spirit over the course of a weekend ! - The CUA Tourist Office, in partnership with Charlène Poret, expert lace-maker in Point d ? Alençon and trained by the Atelier du Mobilier national in Paris and the Musée des beaux-arts et de la dentelle, is organizing the "On fait dans la dentelle !" workshops - Introduce yourself to the secrets of Alençon lacemaking, a unique art form listed by UNESCO as part of its intangible cultural heritage.
La Fête du Sport
- On 29 june 2024
- 27 Rue Albert 1er
- Sports clubs and associations look forward to seeing you on Saturday June 29 at Parc des Promenades, for the Fête du sport. - Before the summer break, this will be the ideal time to find out about the abundance of local sports on offer, and discover new activities or make a change. There will be plenty of opportunities to try out, test and experiment with a wide range of individual and group activities. - Throughout the afternoon, which is intended to be friendly, festive and fun, some forty workshops will be available, open to all ages, with introductions and demonstrations in the park, which for the duration of the day will become the city ? S largest sports ground. - Various games and competitions with prizes will also be on offer. This is an opportunity for clubs and associations to get to know each other and to register for the 2024-2025 season.
Alençon Fête la Libération 1944-2024
- From 1 july to 12 september 2024
- 4, Rue de Bretagne
- Alençon, the first city in France to be liberated by the French army, and more specifically by the famous 2nd Armored Division led by Marshal Leclerc, is a founding place in the liberation of France by France. Throughout the summer, culminating in the days leading up to August 12, the date of the liberation, Alençon welcomes you to discover this surprising history. The events are as numerous as they are varied, free and open to all.
Visite Commentée : Sur les Chemins de la Libération
- On 16 july 2024
- Place de la Magdeleine
- Stroll through the town ? S narrow streets, steeped in history, and follow in the footsteps of the Resistance and General Leclerc ? S 2nd Armored Division in the face of German occupation. Organized by Christophe Bayard (history teacher and local historian) and the Tourist Office, with historical commentary.