Alençon, Town in Normandy, France
Alençon is a town in Normandy, on the border with the Perche and Maine regions, with an old center of stone houses, half-timbered buildings, and cobbled streets. It sits along the Sarthe river and is home to Notre-Dame Basilica, the castle of the dukes of Alençon, and a fine arts and lace museum.
Alençon was an important medieval stronghold controlled by the dukes of Alençon and played a strategic role during the Hundred Years War. Over the following centuries, the town grew through craft and trade, with needle lace making from the 17th century onward becoming one of its defining activities.
Alençon is closely associated with needle lace making, a craft recognized by UNESCO as part of the world's intangible cultural heritage. At the fine arts and lace museum, visitors can see examples of this work up close and understand the level of care it demands.
The town center is easy to explore on foot, as the main sites are close to one another. Starting in the morning is a good idea, when the outdoor market brings the main square to life and the streets are still calm.
The parents of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, Louis and Zélie Martin, were canonized together in 2015, making them one of the first married couples in modern history to be recognized as saints at the same time. Their family home in Alençon is still open to visitors and shows how the household looked in the 19th century.
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