Parc des Promenades
About Parc des Promenades
Parc des Promenades is Alençon's oldest public park, established in 1783 on former hunting grounds of the Dukes of Alençon. Spanning over 4 hectares directly behind the Town Hall, the park features French-style formal gardens with aligned lime trees, trimmed hornbeam hedges, and symmetrical flower beds. The centerpiece is an elegant octagonal music kiosk from 1888, designed by architect Pierre Lheureux with a slate roof covering 67 square meters. Visitors can explore the rose garden created in 1927, which combines formal French sections with winding English-style paths. The park includes shaded lawns, a pond, children's playgrounds, and a small animal enclosure with rabbits and peacocks. Century-old trees dot the landscape, including oaks, beeches, horse chestnuts, and the original plane trees. Opening hours vary seasonally: 7:30 AM to 9:30 PM from September to March, and 7:30 AM to 10:00 PM during summer months.
Interesting Facts
King Louis XV granted this land to the city of Alençon on August 3, 1773. The first tree, an elm, was ceremonially planted on November 20, 1784, marking the official beginning of the park's arboreal collection that now includes over 100 century-old specimens.
Between 1780 and 1801, the park temporarily housed the relocated Saint-Léonard cemetery. The bodies were later moved, and no trace of this unusual period remains visible today.
From 1956 to 1972, the park hosted the famous 'Corso fleuri' (flower parade), one of Normandy's largest floral festivals that attracted thousands of visitors annually with elaborately decorated floats covered in fresh flowers.
Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Location & Practical Info
Address
27 Rue Albert 1er, 61000 Alençon, France
Day Routes
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