Birthplace of Saint Theresa (Maison Natale de Sainte Thérèse)
About Birthplace of Saint Theresa (Maison Natale de Sainte Thérèse)
This 19th-century stone and brick house at 50 rue Saint-Blaise is where Thérèse Martin, later known as Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, was born on January 2, 1873. The Martin family lived here until 1877 when Thérèse was four years old. Today the site operates as a museum and pilgrimage destination, featuring five distinct areas: a reception hall with historical gallery, an exhibition of personal belongings including Zélie's wedding ring and Louis's fishing rods, an auditorium showing an 18-minute film about the family, the restored family living quarters, and an adjoining chapel built in 1925 to commemorate Thérèse's canonization. Visitors can see the birth chamber with the original cradle and marital bed. The site is run by the Brazilian Carmelite community and offers audio-guided tours. An elevator provides accessibility to all floors. Hours vary seasonally—the chapel remains open daily 9am-6pm, while house tours follow more limited schedules. Closed Mondays from November through May.
Interesting Facts
Thérèse was so frail at birth that doctors doubted she would survive. She was sent to live with a wet nurse, Rose Taillé, in the nearby village of Semallé for the first 15 months of her life. Only in April 1874, when she was strong enough, did she return to this house in Alençon.
Both of Thérèse's parents attempted to join religious orders before marriage. Louis applied to the Augustinian monastery at the Great St. Bernard Pass but was rejected for not knowing Latin. Zélie tried to become a nun at the Hotel-Dieu in Alençon but was turned away by the superior. They met later and married in 1858.
In 2015, Louis and Zélie Martin became the first married couple to be canonized together in Catholic Church history. Their canonization ceremony took place exactly 150 years after their wedding. Pope Francis described them as examples of how holiness can be achieved through ordinary family life.
Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Location & Practical Info
Address
50 rue Saint-Blaise, 61000 Alençon, France