Alençon
Alençon is a city in Basse Normandie on the River Sarthe.
Understand
Alençon is a restored gem. A visit is like travelling through time. Among its centuries-old highlights are the circular wheat market, home to exhibitions beneath its magnificent glass dome; the Halle aux Toiles, now a meeting venue; and the recently restored Jesuit church. Cobbled streets lead you from the town centre to the medieval quarter nearby, passing half timbered houses, Notre Dame Church, the Dukes' castle and the Town Hall.
Some may have heard of Point d'Alençon a rare needle point lace making technique that originated in Alençon. UNESCO have included the craftsmanship of Alençon needle lace-makingin the "Representative List of the Cultural Heritage of Humanity". Genuine Alençon lace is expensive and a lot of the lower cost offerings are machine made imitations often from China. True Alençon lace is hand made and takes many hours of work to make even a sq cm.
Get in
Alençon is located 170 km to the W of Paris, 110 km S of Caen and 50 km N of Le Mans, close to the border between Basse Normandie and Pays de la Loire.
By car
Alençon is on the N-S A28 motorway Rouen to Tours. To the N with the A88 & N158 this provides good road links N to Caen and the ferry port at Ouistreham. The Route Nationale N12 to the W connects the town to Paris and to the W to Mayenne then on to Fougères.
By rail
Alençon has both intercity and local rail services.
- 1 Gare d'Alençon (Rail Station), pl de la résistance 61000 Alençon. M 05:05-22:25. Tu-F 06:00-22:25. Sa06:15-22:15. Su 07:30-22:55.
Get around
The centre of the town is small enough to walk around. The town has a local bus service operated by Alto Bus. Free car parking is available in pl Foch (next to Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall)) and pay and display parking around the town.
See
- 1 Château des Ducs (Dukes' Castle).
- 2 Basilica of Notre-Dame d'Alençon. Daily 09:00-18:00. Freee.
- 3 L'Eglise des Jésuites, pl Foch, 61014 Alençon. Tu 13:30:18:00. W 10:00-12:00 & 13:30-18:00. Th 13:30-18:00. Fr 13:30-18:30. Sa 10:00-17:00. Free.
- 4 Musée des Beaux-arts et de la Dentelle d'Alençon (Museum of Fine Arts and Lace of Alençon), Cour Carrée de la Dentelle, 61000 Alençon, ☏ +33 2 33 32 40 07, musee@ville-alencon.fr. The National Lace Workshops is next door to the museum and sells small samples of Alençon lace in the museum shop. €4.10 (reduced and group rates available).
- 5 Maison à l'Étal, 10 rue de la Porte-de-la-Barre, 61000 Alençon.
Do
- 1 Alencea Centre Aquatique (Swimming Pool & aquatic centre), Rue de Villeneuve, 61000 Alençon, ☏ +33 2 33 26 63 32.
- 2 Patinoire d'Alençon (Ice Skating), Parc des Exposition, Route de Bretagne, 61000 Alençon, ☏ +33 2 33 26 27 90.
- 3 Ouest Karting ("Go Karting"), Lieudit La Haute Folie, 61500 Aunay Les Bois (20 km NE of Alençon), ☏ +33 2 33 27 65 87, ouest.karting@orange.fr.
- 4 Golf d’Alençon en Arçonnay, Le Petit Maleffre, 72610 Arçonnay, ☏ +33 2 33 28 56 67. M-Su 9:30-12:30 & 13:15-19:00.
Horse riding
- 5 Centre Équestre de Montmirel (Horse Riding School/Club), Chedouet, 61170 Les Ventes de Bourse, ☏ +33 2 33 28 02 73, contact@centreequestredemontmirel.fr.
- 6 Etrier De Chauvigny (Riding School/Club), rt des Bertaux, 61000 Saint Germain du Corbéis, ☏ +33 2 33 26 09 99.
Buy
- 1 Marché place de la Magdeleine (Market) (next to Church of Notre-Dame). Th & Sa am.
Supermarkets
Eat
- 1 Crêperie au Colibri, 5 rue Du Mans 61000 Alençon, ☏ +33 2 33 26 71 26. M 12:00-14:00 & 19:00-22:00. Tu 12:00-14:00. Th-Su 12:00-14:00 & 19:00-22:00.
- 2 Livarot Pizza, 14 rue St Léonard, 61000 Alençon, ☏ +33 2 33 29 79 18. M-Th 11:30-14:00 & 18:00-22:30 F&Sa 11:30-14:00 & 18:00-23:00 Su 18:00-22:30.. Pizza: €18-23.
- 3 Rive droite, 31 rue du Pont Neuf, 61000 Alençon, ☏ +33 2 33 27 79 73, restaurantrivedroite@orange.fr.
- 4 Le Pouce, 3 place Poulet-Malassis, 61000 Alençon, ☏ +33 2 33 26 04 11, contact@le-pouce-alencon.com.
Drink
- 1 Café du Théatre, 78 pl de la Halle au Blé, 61000 Alençon, ☏ +33 2 33 26 05 13.
- 2 La Cave aux Boeufs, 10 bis rue de la Cave aux Boeufs, 61000 Alençon, ☏ +33 2 33 82 99 45, lacaveauxboeufs@online.fr. Bar, pub, brasserie, restaurant.
- 3 Coco Vons & Vins et Tradition (Wine Bar), 7 rue de la Halle aux Toiles, 61000 Alençon, ☏ +33 2 33 32 15 07, contact@vinsettradition.fr. Tu-F 07:30-17:00. Sa 07:30-15-00..
Sleep
- 1 L'Auberge Normande, ☏ +33 2 33 29 43 29, desnosbruno@sfr.fr. 9 bedrooms,
- 2 Mercure Alencon Hôtel, 187 av du Général Leclerc,61000 Alençon, ☏ +33 2 33 28 64 64, H1359@accor.com. Check-in: from 12:00, check-out: by 12:00. Hotel, restaurant.
- 3 [dead link] Manoir de la Chapelle, 1 rue des Alpes mancelles, 61250 Condé sur Sarthe, ☏ +33 2 33 29 65 54, frederic.maltete@hotmail.fr. €80-90 (breakfast incl.).
- 4 ibis Alençon, 3 pl Auguste Poulet Malassis, 61000 Alençon, ☏ +33 2 33 80 67 67, H0982@accor.com. Check-in: from 12:00, check-out: by 12:00. Pets allowed (charged), Wi-Fi.
- 5 Camping Municipal De Guerame, 65 rue De Guerame, 61000 Alencon, ☏ +33 2 33 26 34 95. Pets allowed. 1 Apr-30 Sept.
Stay healthy
- 1 Dr Lucian Nedelea (Dentist), 37 av de Quakenbruck, 61000 Alençon, ☏ +33 2 33 26 02 48. French, English & Romanian spoken.
- 5 Pharmacie Blanchard (Pharmacy), 16 pl du Commandant Desmeulles, 61000 Alençon, ☏ +33 2 33 80 26 25, pharmacie.blanchard@offisecure.com. M 09:30-12:30 & 14:00-19:30. Tu-F 09:00-12:30 & 14:00-19:30. Sa 09:30-12:30 & 14:00-17:00..
Connect
Go next
- Caen - The historical capital of the region
- Le Mans - A nearby town best known for its annual 24 hour automobile race.