Alençon

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.

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.

• Gare d'Alençon

  address: pl de la résistance 61000 Alençon

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.

• Château des Ducs

• Basilica of Notre-Dame d'Alençon

• L'Eglise des Jésuites

  address: pl Foch, 61014 Alençon

• Musée des Beaux-arts et de la Dentelle d'Alençon

  phone: +33 2 33 32 40 07
  address: Cour Carrée de la Dentelle, 61000 Alençon
  The National Lace Workshops is next door to the museum and sells small samples of Alençon lace in the museum shop.

• Maison à l'Étal

  address: 10 rue de la Porte-de-la-Barre, 61000 Alençon

• Alencea Centre Aquatique

  phone: +33 2 33 26 63 32
  address: Rue de Villeneuve, 61000 Alençon

• Patinoire d'Alençon

  phone: +33 2 33 26 27 90
  address: Parc des Exposition, Route de Bretagne, 61000 Alençon

• Ouest Karting

  phone: +33 2 33 27 65 87
  address: Lieudit La Haute Folie, 61500 Aunay Les Bois

• Golf d’Alençon en Arçonnay

  phone: +33 2 33 28 56 67
  address: Le Petit Maleffre, 72610 Arçonnay

Horse riding

• Centre Équestre de Montmirel

  phone: +33 2 33 28 02 73
  address: Chedouet, 61170 Les Ventes de Bourse

• Etrier De Chauvigny

  phone: +33 2 33 26 09 99
  address: rt des Bertaux, 61000 Saint Germain du Corbéis

• Marché place de la Magdeleine

Supermarkets

• Lidl

  address: 1 & 3 rue Nicolas Appert, 6100 Alençon

• Carrefour

  address: Centre Commercial Carrefour Alençon, 61250 Condé-sur-Sarthe

• E.Leclerc

  phone: +33 2 33 81 41 00
  address: rte du Mans, 72610 Arconnay

• Crêperie au Colibri

  phone: +33 2 33 26 71 26
  address: 5 rue Du Mans 61000 Alençon

• Livarot Pizza

  phone: +33 2 33 29 79 18
  address: 14 rue St Léonard, 61000 Alençon

• Rive droite

  phone: +33 2 33 27 79 73
  address: 31 rue du Pont Neuf, 61000 Alençon

• Le Pouce

  phone: +33 2 33 26 04 11
  address: 3 place Poulet-Malassis, 61000 Alençon

• Café du Théatre

  phone: +33 2 33 26 05 13
  address: 78 pl de la Halle au Blé, 61000 Alençon

• La Cave aux Boeufs

  phone: +33 2 33 82 99 45
  address: 10 bis rue de la Cave aux Boeufs, 61000 Alençon
  Bar, pub, brasserie, restaurant.

• Coco Vons & Vins et Tradition

  phone: +33 2 33 32 15 07
  address: 7 rue de la Halle aux Toiles, 61000 Alençon

• L'Auberge Normande

  phone: +33 2 33 29 43 29
  9 bedrooms,

• Mercure Alencon Hôtel

  phone: +33 2 33 28 64 64
  address: 187 av du Général Leclerc,61000 Alençon
  Hotel, restaurant.

• Manoir de la Chapelle

  phone: +33 2 33 29 65 54
  address: 1 rue des Alpes mancelles, 61250 Condé sur Sarthe

• ibis Alençon

  phone: +33 2 33 80 67 67
  address: 3 pl Auguste Poulet Malassis, 61000 Alençon
  Pets allowed (charged), Wi-Fi.

• Camping Municipal De Guerame

  phone: +33 2 33 26 34 95
  address: 65 rue De Guerame, 61000 Alencon
  Pets allowed. 1 Apr-30 Sept.

• Dr Lucian Nedelea

  phone: +33 2 33 26 02 48
  address: 37 av de Quakenbruck, 61000 Alençon
  French, English & Romanian spoken.

• Pharmacie Blanchard

  phone: +33 2 33 80 26 25
  address: 16 pl du Commandant Desmeulles, 61000 Alençon

• La Poste

  address: 1 rue de la Halle aux Toiles, 61000 Alençon

• La Poste

  address: 57 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 61000 Alençon

• Caen - The historical capital of the region
• Le Mans - A nearby town best known for its annual 24 hour automobile race.