Editing Alençon

{{France}}
{{City
    |name       =Alençon
    |country    =France
    |region     =Lower-Normandy
    |nickname   =
    |group      =9936
    |wikipedia  =Alençon
    |wikivoyage =Alençon
    |image      =Alencon.JPG
    |imagetext  =Blason of the City
    |ambassadors=[[Liste_des_Volontaires_CS_en_France#En_Basse_Normandie|CS Ambassadors in the Area]]
    }}
[[File:Alencon.jpg|thumb|800px|center|]]

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'''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).<br />
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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 !
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==<FONT COLOR="#CC9900">'''HISTORY OF ALENCON'''</FONT>==
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 [[wikipedia:Alençon]] !'''''

==<FONT COLOR="#CC9900">'''WHAT TO VISIT ?'''</FONT>==
<table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center>
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[[File:Notre dame alençon.JPG|thumb|270px|center|The Cathedral]]
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[[File:Town-of-alencon.jpg|thumb|260px|center|The Old Town]]
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[[File:Bibliotheque.jpg|thumb|260px|center|The Library]]
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</table>
<table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center>
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  <td align=center>
[[File:Hotel de ville Alencon.jpg|thumb|250px|center|The Town Hall]]
  </td>
  <td align=center>
[[File:Halle au Ble.jpg|thumb|240px|center|The Corn Hall]]
  </td>
  <td align=center>
[[File:Prison.jpg|thumb|230px|center|The Prison]]
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

'''''More informations about the places to visit in Alençon on the [[wikivoyage:Alençon]] or/and check the [http://www.paysdalencontourisme.com/index.php4?lang=en&PHPSESSID=d86f2e6d3c0c5e3957cba0f26485cb09 Official Website of the Office of Tourism].'''''

==<FONT COLOR="#CC9900">'''TIPS'''</FONT>==

===<FONT COLOR="#3300CC">'''Free Internet/Wifi Access'''</FONT>===

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.

===<FONT COLOR="#3300CC">'''Nice & Cheap Places to Eat'''</FONT>===

===<FONT COLOR="#3300CC">'''Nightlife'''</FONT>===

==<FONT COLOR="#CC9900">'''COUCHSURFERS'''</FONT>==
There are about 20 Couchsurfers in Alençon and its area. You can check the [http://www.couchsurfing.org/group.html?gid=9936 CS Group of Alençon] or simply a couchsearch to find and contact them.

===<FONT COLOR="#3300CC">'''Meetings'''</FONT>===
There are no meetings organised for the moment in Alençon, but just check the [http://www.couchsurfing.org/group.html?gid=9936 CS Group of Alençon] to see what happen in the city and/or the [http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=180 Regional CS Group of Basse Normandie (Lower Normandy)] to see if there is any event in the area.

===<FONT COLOR="#3300CC">'''Coffee or a Drink'''</FONT>===
Here is a list of persons who are ready to have a drink with you and/or show you the city:
<!-- If you are not able to host anyone (for example if parents or flatmates are uncomfortable with the idea), but would still like to meet up with people travelling through the city! -->

==<FONT COLOR="#CC9900">'''TRANSPORTATIONS'''</FONT>==

===<FONT COLOR="#3300CC">'''How to get to Alençon'''</FONT>===

* '''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:'''


===<FONT COLOR="#3300CC">'''Bus'''</FONT>===
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.

===<FONT COLOR="#3300CC">'''Bicycles'''</FONT>===

==<FONT COLOR="#CC9900">'''IN CASE OF EMERGENCY'''</FONT>==
[[File:110 F 5944636 1f9rXG7PRPiG210JXW9Jql5PCPR0x9Lo.jpg|thumb|250px|right|]]

* '''Police Station:''' <br />
'''Gendarmerie et police :''' 17 <br />
'''Police municipale :''' 02 33 82 67 23 <br />
* '''Health Urgency:''' <br />
SAMU : 15 <br />
* '''Hospital:''' <br />
'''Centre Hospitalier‎''' -'' 25, Rue Fresnay, 61000 Alençon‎ <br />
Tel: 02 33 32 74 25'' <br />
'''Ctre Hosp Intercommunal Alencon Mamers‎''' - ''25, Rue Fresnay, 61000 Alençon‎ <br />
Tel: 08 00 10 09 35‎'' <br />
* '''Fireman Station:''' <br />
Pompiers : 18 <br />
* '''Embassy:''' 
* '''Emergency Doctor:''' <br />
'''Médecins de garde :''' 02 33 32 78 78

==<FONT COLOR="#CC9900">'''LOCAL MEDIA MENTIONS'''</FONT>==
<!-- CouchSurfing and this city. E.g. was CouchSurfing mentioned in local media? -->
<!--  Please add these intersite links if you have the time to look up this city over there:  -->
<!-- [[csgroup:NUMBER]]     <!-- at http://couchsurfing.com/groups.html - NUMBER in address        -->
[[wikivoyage:Alençon]]
<!-- [[hitch:CITY]]              <!-- at http://hitchhiking.wikia.com - CITY in address            -->

==<FONT COLOR="#CC9900">'''INTERESTED LINKS'''</FONT>==

* '''[http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=180 Regional CS Group: Basse-Normandie (Lower Normandie)]'''
* '''[http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=9936 City CS Group: Alençon]'''
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* '''[http://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Alençon Alençon on Wikivoyage]'''
* '''[http://hitchwiki.org/en/Alençon Alençon on Hitchwiki]'''
* '''[http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alençon Alençon on Wikipedia]'''

[[Category:France]]
[[Category:Lower-Normandy]]