Alençon can be explored through a range of themes: the Point d’Alençon lace-making craft practised in the city, the history of the Martin family, surviving parts of the Château des Ducs and several cycling routes. To plan your trip, you can first decide whether to focus on cultural and architectural history or on a route where Alençon is a starting point, a connection or a stage.

Needle Lace and the Martin Legacy

Point d’Alençon is a rare needle-lace-making technique practised in Alençon, in Normandy in northwestern France. In 2010, this craft was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Louis and Zélie Martin married in the Basilique Notre-Dame in 1858. On 4 January 1873, their ninth child, the future Sainte Thérèse de l’Enfant Jésus, was baptised there. The one-hour tour “Les Secrets de la Basilique” focuses on the architecture, stained-glass windows and history of the numerous chapels. As the tour offering may change, check the latest information before planning your visit.

The chapel of the Maison de la famille Martin opens onto Louis and Zélie Martin’s marital bedroom. The room was also Thérèse’s birthplace and the place where Zélie Martin died. The organ in the Basilique is another cultural and historical detail: its case dates from the 16th century, and the organ has been restored. It was inaugurated and blessed in September 2016.

Castle Remains and the Halle au Blé

The Château des Ducs was expanded in the 14th century, making it one of the largest and most important castles in Normandy. Today, the entrance pavilion with its crenellated towers, the residential building and the crowned tower remain. These three structures offer a tangible sense of which parts of the castle still survive.

The Halle au Blé offers a different architectural highlight: this imposing round building has a majestic glass roof and now hosts temporary exhibitions, events or performances. As the programme may vary, check the current events for a specific date.

Three Cycling Routes, Three Roles

The 250-kilometre La Vélobuissonnière® connects Alençon with Saumur in the Val de Loire. It passes through natural landscapes, along quiet roads and on greenways. It therefore links two named destinations while also offering a variety of surfaces.

Alençon is also an important stage on the 450-kilometre Véloscénie, which connects Paris with Mont-Saint-Michel. On this route, the city’s role as a stage takes centre stage. Check the route details before setting off.

The 130-kilometre “La petite reine” cycling loop starts in Alençon and follows small roads and a greenway from the Alpes Mancelles to the Perseigne State Forest. The routes have different roles: a loop starting in Alençon, a connection between Alençon and Saumur, or Alençon as a stage on the route from Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel. You can choose a route to suit the kind of ride you want. Also check route conditions before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Canapville, Ceton, Marcei, Le Mêle-Sur-Sarthe, Le Theil, Moulins-La-Marche, Belfonds, Carrouges.

For the broader travel overview: Orne.