magnificent in black & white, the PRÉFECTURE DE L’ORNE, Alencon, Normandie, France
There are 101 prefectures in France, one for each department, in this case the department of Orne www.orne.gouv.fr/prefecture-de-l-orne-adresses-et-horaire... . The official in charge is the prefect (French: préfet). The prefecture is an administration that belongs to the Ministry of the Interior, and is therefore in charge of the delivery of identity cards, driving licenses, passports, residency and work permits for foreigners, vehicle registration, registration of associations (creation, status modification, dissolution), and of the management of the police and firefighters. The prefect represents the national government at the local level and as such exercises the powers that are constitutionally attributed to the national government. The prefect issues ordinances written for the application of local law, e.g. to close a building that does not conform to safety codes, or modify vehicular traffic regulations (speed limit, construction permits). The governing body of the department is the departmental council (French: Conseil départemental), which is in charge of the building and maintenance of schools and roads, financial assistance to dependent people (disabled and elderly), and promotion of local economic development, etc. In the past, the prefect was head of the department, however, since 1982, the president of the departmental council has assumed the role of chief executive of the department.
Alençon, a town in the Orne region of Normandy, is renowned for its lace, particularly “the point of Alençon”, a know-how that has been listed with UNESCO since 2010. Alençon has a lot more to offer than just it’s historical part of the old town, with its half timbered and ornate stone buildings. The 16thc Basilica of Notre Dame stands out with its façade of intricate stone-carving, particularly around the main entrance resembling the town’s most famous heritage “lace”. Step through this flamboyant gothic doorway to see the recently restored stained glass windows, a 16th c organ case or a pulpit built in 1536. The Château des Ducs built in the 15th c is another imposing monument. All that remains today is its crenellated tower within the outer walls and the two massive towers at the entrance. Other buildings of interest includes the 17th c Jesuit Church (now a public library), the Corn Exchange topped by a magnificent glass dome and built at the beginning of the 19thc is one of the most recognizable. Other places of interest include the 15th c Maison d’Ozé that now houses the Tourist Information Centre; the Town Hall with its unusual concave façade or the red brick Hotel de Guise built in the 17th c. Place of pilgrimage Alençon is also the birthplace of Saint Therese. There is a walking tour you can do taking in various different sights linked to her and in particularly her parents Louis and Zélie Martin. www.paysdalencontourisme.com/decouvrir/le-pays-dalencon/a... or www.holidays-alencon.com/discover/region-alencon/alencon-...
magnificent in black & white, the PRÉFECTURE DE L’ORNE, Alencon, Normandie, France
There are 101 prefectures in France, one for each department, in this case the department of Orne www.orne.gouv.fr/prefecture-de-l-orne-adresses-et-horaire... . The official in charge is the prefect (French: préfet). The prefecture is an administration that belongs to the Ministry of the Interior, and is therefore in charge of the delivery of identity cards, driving licenses, passports, residency and work permits for foreigners, vehicle registration, registration of associations (creation, status modification, dissolution), and of the management of the police and firefighters. The prefect represents the national government at the local level and as such exercises the powers that are constitutionally attributed to the national government. The prefect issues ordinances written for the application of local law, e.g. to close a building that does not conform to safety codes, or modify vehicular traffic regulations (speed limit, construction permits). The governing body of the department is the departmental council (French: Conseil départemental), which is in charge of the building and maintenance of schools and roads, financial assistance to dependent people (disabled and elderly), and promotion of local economic development, etc. In the past, the prefect was head of the department, however, since 1982, the president of the departmental council has assumed the role of chief executive of the department.
Alençon, a town in the Orne region of Normandy, is renowned for its lace, particularly “the point of Alençon”, a know-how that has been listed with UNESCO since 2010. Alençon has a lot more to offer than just it’s historical part of the old town, with its half timbered and ornate stone buildings. The 16thc Basilica of Notre Dame stands out with its façade of intricate stone-carving, particularly around the main entrance resembling the town’s most famous heritage “lace”. Step through this flamboyant gothic doorway to see the recently restored stained glass windows, a 16th c organ case or a pulpit built in 1536. The Château des Ducs built in the 15th c is another imposing monument. All that remains today is its crenellated tower within the outer walls and the two massive towers at the entrance. Other buildings of interest includes the 17th c Jesuit Church (now a public library), the Corn Exchange topped by a magnificent glass dome and built at the beginning of the 19thc is one of the most recognizable. Other places of interest include the 15th c Maison d’Ozé that now houses the Tourist Information Centre; the Town Hall with its unusual concave façade or the red brick Hotel de Guise built in the 17th c. Place of pilgrimage Alençon is also the birthplace of Saint Therese. There is a walking tour you can do taking in various different sights linked to her and in particularly her parents Louis and Zélie Martin. www.paysdalencontourisme.com/decouvrir/le-pays-dalencon/a... or www.holidays-alencon.com/discover/region-alencon/alencon-...