Can you visit the inside of the castle of the dukes of Alençon?

No details on interior visiting conditions are given here; the site is mainly known for its exterior remains, visible from the town.

Did the castle serve as a prison?

Yes, from 1804 until 2010 the building housed Alençon's jail.

Who owns the castle today?

The city of Alençon has owned it since 2018, after buying it back from the French state.

Château des ducs d'Alençon

ducs d'Alençon Castle

Alençon

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Where: Alençon

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Manoir de ClasséAccommodation on site26 km

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Atelier d'écriture : séances du vendrediFri, Nov 6 · château du Tertre37 km

Château des ducs d'Alençon stands in Alençon (Orne), in the Normandie region of France. The building is listed as a historic monument (dating recorded in the Mérimée database: Middle Ages). Its opening hours and prices have not been verified at the source yet.

In the heart of Alençon, on the left bank of the Briante river, stand the remains of a medieval stronghold that once served as the seat of the county and later the duchy of Alençon. Visitors can see a gatehouse flanked by twin round towers and a so-called crowned tower, the only surviving parts of a much larger complex demolished at the end of the 16th century on the orders of Henri IV. The building later served as a prison, a role it kept until 2010, before the city purchased it in 2018.

Written from Château des ducs d'Alençon

What to know

The castle is located in the town centre of Alençon and is easily reached on foot.
Only the entrance gatehouse and the crowned tower remain of the former stronghold.
The site served as a prison until 2010 and has belonged to the city of Alençon since 2018.
The building has been listed as a historic monument since 1862.
The surroundings of the castle are being developed into an urban park.

Where this château is

Alençon · Orne · Normandie

Map of the area around Château des ducs d'Alençon

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This châteauChâteaux within 40 km

Address

Pl. Foch, 61000 Alençon

Directions open from wherever you are, by car or public transport.

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Heritage status: Listed historic monument (classé); Mérimée record PA00110691
Period of construction: Middle Ages

Itineraries

Normandy castles in 2 days from Caen

In pictures

Frequently asked

Can you visit the inside of the castle of the dukes of Alençon?: No details on interior visiting conditions are given here; the site is mainly known for its exterior remains, visible from the town.
Why is so little of the castle left today?: Most of the fortress was demolished at the end of the 16th century on the orders of Henri IV, who sought to curb the power of local lords.
Did the castle serve as a prison?: Yes, from 1804 until 2010 the building housed Alençon's jail.
Who owns the castle today?: The city of Alençon has owned it since 2018, after buying it back from the French state.