Alencon, a town of France, in Normandy, capital of the department of Orne, on the Sarthe, 116 m. W. S. W. of Paris; pop. in 1866, 16,116. It has a considerable inland trade, and is known for the famous lace, point d'Alencon. The fabrication of this costly article, however, now gives employment to a comparatively small number of families, in which it is an hereditary occupation. The trade was one of the forced productions of Colbert, who gave a monopoly of it for ten years, and a bounty from the crown. The inhabitants are generally engaged in making muslin, embroidery, leather, glass, and iron. Alencon is mostly built of granite, and has a cathedral, library, museum, college, theatre, and annual horse races. Its counts were conspicuous in the history of Normandy and of France from the 10th century. In 1219 it was made an apanage of the French crown, with lords of the royal family; and in the 15th century it was erected into a royal duchy. The second son of the duke de Nemours, born in 1814, now bears the title of duke d'Alencon.