Château de Saint Paterne
Alençon and surroundings
Alençon
At 5mn
Alençon's streets, gift shops, chocolatiers, parks and street markets (Thursday and Saturday) should not be missed. You can follow an audio tour from the Alençon Tourist Office, which is in the former palace of the Dukes of Alençon, the 'Maison d'Ozé', next to the spectacular gothic Eglise Notre Dame. You can also visit the birthplace of St Therese of Lisieux, which draws pilgrims from around the world.
Most of all Alençon is known for its lace, considered by many as the finest in the world, and which has been made since the 17th century.
The Museum of Fine Arts has a permanent exhibition explaining the technique and displays examples through the centuries.
Market in Alençon on Thursday and Saturday.