Alençon



Alençon is a city in France, préfecture (capital) of the Orne department and one of the main cities of the Region Basse Normandie (Lower-Normandy). It is situated 105 miles west of Paris, and the town has a population of 30,380 (in 1999). Alençon belongs to the Communauté urbaine d'Alençon (with 52,000 people).

There are about 20 couchsurfers who live in Alençon and the area. This page show you some tips to make your journey in Alençon as in your dream !

HISTORY OF ALENCON
It was probably during the 4th century, while the area was being Christianised, that the city of Alençon was founded. The name is first seen in a document dated in the 7th century. During the 10th century, Alençon was a buffer state between Normandy and the Maine regions. In 1047, William Duke of Normandy, later known as William the Conqueror and king of England, laid siege to the town. The citizens insulted William by hanging animal skins from the walls, in reference to his ancestry as the illegitimate son of Duke Robert and a tanner's daughter. On capturing the town, William had the citizens' hands cut off in revenge. Alençon was occupied by the English during the Anglo-Norman wars of 1113 to 1203.

The city became the seat of a dukedom in 1415, belonging to the sons of the King of France until the French Revolution, and some of them played important roles in French history: see Duke of Alençon. The French Revolution caused relatively little disorder in this area although there were some royalist uprisings nearby.

The fabric industry gave birth to the famous point d'Alençon lace. The economic development of the 19th century and the industrial boom was generated by several factories (mills), and transport networks (roads and railways) developed. In the first half of the 20th century the city developed a flourishing printing industry. On June 17 1940 the German army occupied Alençon. On August 12 1944 Alençon was the first French city to be liberated by the French army under General Leclerc, after minor bomb damage.

After the war the population sharply increased and new industries settled. Many of these are related to plastics and Moulinex was a major employer until the closure of the Moulinex factories throughout France in 2001. Alençon is linked by the A28 autoroute to Le Mans in the Sarthe to the south. In late 2005 Alençon was linked to Rouen by a new section of the A28 autoroute.

More informations about the History of Alençon on the Alençon !

WHAT TO VISIT ?
More informations about the places to visit in Alençon on the Alençon or/and check the Official Website of the Office of Tourism.

Free Internet/Wifi Access
Here is a list of places where you can find some Internet/Wifi access:


 * BIJ - Adress: 4 et 6, place Poulet Malassis Alençon - Tel: 02 33 80 48 90 [not free]
 * Espace internet - Adress: La Rotonde - Espace Internet Alençon 6-8 rue des Filles Notre Dame - Tel: 02 33 32 40 33
 * Parvis de la halle aux toiles, near place poulet malassis (downtown) - 100% free (outdoor) access. If chilly, you can have a drink in a nearby bar and access the net.

COUCHSURFERS
There are about 20 Couchsurfers in Alençon and its area. You can check the CS Group of Alençon or simply a couchsearch to find and contact them.

Meetings
There are no meetings organised for the moment in Alençon, but just check the CS Group of Alençon to see what happen in the city and/or the Regional CS Group of Basse Normandie (Lower Normandy) to see if there is any event in the area.

Coffee or a Drink
Here is a list of persons who are ready to have a drink with you and/or show you the city:

How to get to Alençon

 * By car: Alençon is now linked to the autoroute (major interstate) system with Le Mans (Sarthe), and to Rouen (Haute-Normandie) since the completion of the A28 27 Oct 2005


 * By Train:


 * By Plane:

Bus
They have available from the hours of 07:00 to 19:00 an inter city bus system. A range of different tickets and rates are available; but it is possible to ride the bus for a 1.05€ ticket.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY</FONT>



 * Police Station:

Gendarmerie et police : 17

Police municipale : 02 33 82 67 23


 * Health Urgency:

SAMU : 15


 * Hospital:

Centre Hospitalier‎ -'' 25, Rue Fresnay, 61000 Alençon‎

Tel: 02 33 32 74 25''

Ctre Hosp Intercommunal Alencon Mamers‎ - ''25, Rue Fresnay, 61000 Alençon‎

Tel: 08 00 10 09 35‎''


 * Fireman Station:

Pompiers : 18


 * Embassy:
 * Emergency Doctor:

Médecins de garde : 02 33 32 78 78

LOCAL MEDIA MENTIONS</FONT>
Alençon

INTERESTED LINKS</FONT>
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
 * Regional CS Group: Basse-Normandie (Lower Normandie)
 * City CS Group: Alençon


 * Alençon on Wikivoyage
 * Alençon on Hitchwiki
 * Alençon on Wikipedia