Alençon

Alençon is a city in Basse Normandie on the River Sarthe. 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 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.

Understand
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 square centimetre.

Get in
Alençon is 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.

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.

Go next

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