Young people picnicking in the Parc des Promenades, Alençon — ©Parc des Promenades, Alençon|Alençon Tourisme, Pascal Beltrami

Discover Alençon, a natural town

What could be more pleasant than combining heritage discoveries with bucolic breaks in pretty parks or on the banks of a river? Often referred to as a “nature town“, Alençon invites you to linger in its many green spaces, with their varied charms, inviting you to stroll and relax. You’ll see, here you can breathe!

The promenades park

After your stroll through the narrow streets of the historic centre, take a break in the Parc des Promenades. Located behind the town hall, this haven of greenery is Alençon’s oldest park. Created in 1783, it offers walkers a vast French-style garden, some of whose trees are over a hundred years old, and a pretty square with rose gardens, aviaries, rockeries, a terrace and a gazebo.

There’s something for everyone in this park: children will find places to play ball, playgrounds and animal enclosures; older visitors can wander around in the sunshine, on the terrace of a garden shed, enjoying a snack or an aperitif, not far from a fountain and a 19th-century kiosk. In summer, it hosts events such as “Rendez-vous aux jardins”, “Alençon Plage” and “La fête du sport”, as well as an open-air cinema.

The little word Ludivine, our executive assistant

Personally, I love walking around the Parc des Promenades when the rose garden is in bloom in spring. The scenery is so beautiful that it’s a great opportunity to take some pretty photos. Afterwards, I go and sit on the grass in the sun to relax with my family or friends and take in some colours before the summer!

Parc Simone Veil in Alençpn — ©Alençon Tourisme, Marie-Claire Lion

Simone Veil Park

Since 1804, the imposing medieval walls of the Château des Ducs have contained prison cells. Following the closure of the prison in 2010, the town undertook to redevelop the former prisoners’ exercise yards, giving rise in 2019 to this new park named in tribute to Simone Veil, a great French woman with an exceptional career and a symbol of unity and openness. With its contemporary design, the Parc Simone Veil is a haven of peace on the banks of the Briante River. Children will love the lawns, slide and games.

The experimental garden

From the Parc Simone Veil, a footbridge across the Briante gives access to this small green space dedicated to the art of gardening, with each plot managed by a group of volunteers.

Ozé's garden and its conservatory orchard

Within the grounds of the Maison d’Ozé is a small, tranquil garden full of flowers where it’s nice to laze around. A few years ago, the Société d’Horticulture de l’Orne created a conservatory orchard here, featuring old varieties of fruit trees: Doyenné d’Alençon and Figue d’Alençon pear trees, Bon Père and red Calvi apple trees. The orchard is closed from mid-July to mid-October to preserve the fruit set.

Fruit trees at the Conservatory Orchard in Alençon — ©Conservatory orchard in the Ozé garden in Alençon|Ville d'Alençon, Olivier Héron

View of the basilica in the Parc de la Providence in Alençon — ©Parc de la Providence|lençon Tourisme, Pascal Beltrami

Providence urban park

The park was designed on the site of the former Providence religious community from 1859 to 2004. Located right next to Notre Dame Basilica, it has been designed to make the most of the century-old trees and ancient buildings. 26 bronze hands signing the 26 signs of the dactylological alphabet are a reminder that for nearly two centuries, the Providence establishment on rue Étoupée took in young deaf and dumb children.

La Fuie des vignes and the banks of the Sarthe

This pleasant walk immerses you in the heart of a sensitive natural area where the flood plains on the banks of the Sarthe have been preserved. As you walk along the banks of the Sarthe, you’ll come across a number of houses with gardens and wash-houses overlooking the river. Continue on to the Pont-Neuf and enjoy a snack or reading break on the benches and deckchairs!

The arboretum

Take the time to discover the second largest park in Alençon and perfect your knowledge of plants. TheArboretum d’Alençon is located on a floodplain of the Sarthe, and is home to 300 trees that can adapt to wetlands and flooding: oaks, ashes, liquidambars, poplars, sequoia and cypresses flourish in this ideal environment.

Gustave Courbet Park

It’s a real green space reserved for relaxation and fun for the little ones thanks to its many games; it’s also ideal for fishermen as it’s located on the banks of the Sarthe. From the park, you can take a stroll along a path that runs alongside the river.

Take a stroll too

Parc Joubert and Parc de Cerisey, Alençon
Parc du Gué de Gesnes, Arçonnay
theChevain Arboretum, in Le Chevain
Parc de l’Éclat, Lonrai
on the green route