Guided tours Alencon Tourism — ©Alençon Tourisme, Marie-Claire Lion

The Tourist Office Our guided tours

Join Alençon Tourisme’s guides on an exciting journey back in time!

Follow them through the historic quarters ofAlençon and relive the key moments that have marked the town… Architectural details, confidential passages, unusual facts, the former City of the Dukes will no longer hold any secrets for you!
And don’t hesitate to follow our guides to Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei and fall under the spell of this “Most Beautiful Village in France®”... You’ll learn more about its history, legends and heritage, not forgetting anecdotes about the painters of Saint-Céneri when they used to feast at the Moisy sisters’ inn!

PROGRAMME Alençon Tourism guided tours

PLEASE NOTE: our guided tours take place during the school holidays.

Our guides organise a programme of guided tours on a variety of themes throughout the year.
Some of them are treasure hunts for children!

Information and bookings:

Alençon Tourist Information Office: 38, rue aux Sieurs 61000 Alençon
By e-mail: contact@visitalencon.com
By telephone: +33 (0)2 33 80 66 33

Are you a band? Contact our groups department

If you would like a guided tour for a group (associations, professional seminars, schools), contact our Groups and Seminars department, which will organise an à la carte programme for you all year round!

Alençon, the city of the Dukes Duration: 1 hour

Take time out to visit the emblematic monuments that have shaped the glory and renown of the former City of Dukes. Follow the guide: it’s just a short step from the 11th to the 21st century!

The secrets of the basilica Duration: 1 hour

Admire Notre-Dame Basilica like never before!
A familiar silhouette in Alençon since the 14th century, the basilica still has much to reveal to you: its architectural details, its stained glass windows and the history of its many chapels.

Guided tour of the Basilica — ©Alençon Tourisme, Marie-Claire Lion

La Belle Discrete guided tour — ©Alençon Tourisme, Marie-Claire Lion

Alençon, the discreet beauty Duration: 1h30

Take the time to discover Alençon’s fabulous architectural heritage! Stroll through the narrow streets in the company of our guide, who will reveal the secrets of the characterful residences and private mansions that marked the development of the town between the 17th and 19th centuries. History is at your fingertips…

The Middle Ages, a singular era Duration: 1h30

Visit for adults.
Embark on an unexpected journey through the Cité des Ducs and discover the singular beliefs and practices of the Middle Ages.

Guided tour of the Singular Era — ©Alençon Tourisme, Marie-Claire Lion

Prominent women of Alençon Duration: 1h30

Follow in the footsteps of the influential women of Alençon on a trail that takes you to the places that have shaped their history.

Alençon during the Second World War Duration: 1h30

Stroll through the town’s narrow streets, steeped in history, and follow in the footsteps of the Resistance and General Leclerc’s 2nd Armoured Division as they confront the occupying German troops. This is your chance to discover anecdotes about life in Alençon from 1939 to 1945.

From thread to needle Duration: 1h30

Take a tour of the Halle aux toiles, the Musée des Beaux-arts et de la Dentelle, the Hôtel Boyville and the Place Masson to learn more about the skills that have contributed to Alençon’s reputation.

PROGRAMME treasure hunts for children

Period: school holidays | Information and bookings at the Alençon Tourist Information Office

In search of the magic remedy Duration: 1 hour

Treasure hunt for children aged 5 to 10.
Set off on a race against time to help a famous Alençon character!
Use clues to find the components of the witch’s potion scattered around the Saint-Léonard district.

Children's guided tour — ©Alençon Tourisme, Lou Marais

Daily life in the Middle Ages Duration: 1 hour

For children aged 6 to 9.
Immerse yourself in the world of princesses and knights, and experience the daily lives of men and women in the Middle Ages.
Who were they? What did they eat? Where did they live?

In the shoes of the builders Duration: 1 hour

For children aged 6 to 9.
Join the builders of the Middle Ages.
Discover their construction secrets, their tools and the different trades that went into building Alençon’s iconic monuments.

The mystery of Easter Duration: 1 hour

A treasure hunt for children aged 5 to 10.
The Duchess of Alençon’s eggs have mysteriously disappeared from the market! To save her Easter party, help Elisabeth d’Orléans find them.

PROGRAMME guided tours of Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei

This tour is ideal if you want to find out all about the history and legends of this “Most beautiful village in France®”, created by an Italian hermit called Céneri in the 7th century.

Period: April to September | Information and bookings at the tourist information offices in Alençon and Saint-Céneri

Discover Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei Running time: 1h15

PLEASE NOTE: guided tours of the village take place when the Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei Tourist Information Office is open, from April to September.

Step back in time and immerse yourself in the story of the birth of the village of Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei in the 7th century, when an Italian hermit, Céneri, came to evangelise the north-western regions and founded a monastery there. Find out all about its legends, its Romanesque church and its chapel hidden in the meadow.
Then take a trip back in time to the 19th century, when landscape painters came to feast at Adélaïde and Léonie Moisy’s inn!

RATES Alençon Tourism guided tours

1-hour tours: Adults (over 18): €5 / Young people (10 to 18): €3
Children (under 10): free
1-hour tours for children: Children aged 5 to 10: €4 / Accompanying adult: free
(maximum 2 accompanying adults per family + €1 per additional adult)
1h30 tours: Adults (over 18): €6 / Young people (10 to 18): €3
Children (under 10): free