On July 12, 1858, in the parlor of a modest house on Rue Saint-Blaise, a young lace-maker named Zelie Guerin first met Louis Martin, a skilled watchmaker who had once sought to become a monk. Within three months they were married at Notre-Dame d'Alencon, beginning a family life so extraordinary in its holiness that the Church would one day canonize them both. Nine children followed, though only five daughters survived infancy. The youngest, born on January 2, 1873, would become one of the most beloved saints of modern times: Therese Martin, the "Little Flower" of Lisieux.
Alencon today remains deeply marked by this remarkable family. The Basilica of Notre-Dame, where Louis and Zelie exchanged their vows, rises above the old quarter with its distinctive Flamboyant Gothic architecture. Around the corner, the family home where Therese was born now serves as a sanctuary, its rooms preserved much as they were in the 1870s. For pilgrims who know Therese only through Lisieux, a journey to Alencon completes the picture, revealing the domestic church where sanctity was first nurtured through the ordinary graces of work, prayer, and family love.
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
The Martin family saga in Alencon spans three generations of deep Catholic faith. Louis Martin (1823-1894) arrived in the town as a young man to learn watchmaking, having been refused entry to the Augustinian monastery at the Grand Saint-Bernard because he lacked Latin. He established his shop on the Rue du Pont-Neuf and lived a disciplined bachelor's life devoted to prayer, fishing, and good works. Zelie Guerin (1831-1877), meanwhile, had also been refused religious life by the Sisters of Charity of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul in Alencon, though she had a gift for the delicate craft of Alencon point lace, which had made the town famous throughout Europe.
Their meeting in 1858 came about through what Zelie later described as an interior voice. Walking across the Pont de Sarthe, she passed Louis Martin and heard clearly in her heart: "This is the one I have prepared for you." They married on July 13, 1858, and for the first months of their union lived as brother and sister in imitation of the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph, until a confessor advised them otherwise.
Between 1860 and 1873, Zelie bore nine children. Four died in infancy or early childhood, leaving five daughters: Marie, Pauline, Leonie, Celine, and Therese. The household operated as what Pope Francis would later call a "domestic church" in the fullest sense. The family attended daily Mass at Notre-Dame, observed the liturgical seasons with devotion, and wove prayer into every aspect of their daily routine. Louis, despite running a successful jewelry and watch business, found time for nocturnal adoration and charitable works. Zelie, managing both her household and a flourishing lace-making enterprise that employed several workers, nonetheless wrote letters of profound spiritual insight that survive as testimonies to her interior life.
Therese's birth on January 2, 1873, nearly ended in tragedy. The infant was so weak that her parents feared she would not survive. She was baptized two days later at Notre-Dame. When her health continued to decline, she was sent to live with a wet nurse in the countryside for over a year. Her return to the family and subsequent childhood in the house on Rue Saint-Blaise, surrounded by adoring sisters and devout parents, would shape the future Doctor of the Church.
The idyll ended with Zelie's death from breast cancer on August 28, 1877. Therese was just four years old. Within months, Louis moved the family to Lisieux to be near relatives who could help raise his daughters. The Alencon chapter of the Martin story closed, but its memory endured.
The cause for Louis and Zelie's canonization advanced steadily through the twentieth century. They were declared Venerable in 1994, beatified together by Pope Benedict XVI on October 19, 2008, and canonized by Pope Francis on October 18, 2015, during the Synod on the Family. They became the first married couple in Church history to be canonized together, their feast day established as July 12, their wedding anniversary.
☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Alencon
Basilique Notre-Dame d'Alencon
Basilica of Our Lady of Alencon
This magnificent church, elevated to the rank of minor basilica in 2009, dominates Alencon's historic center with its Flamboyant Gothic tower and ornate stone facade. Construction began in the fourteenth century and continued over two hundred years, resulting in a harmonious blend of Gothic styles. The church's significance for pilgrims lies in its intimate connection to the Martin family: Louis and Zelie were married here on July 13, 1858, and their youngest daughter Therese was baptized at the font on January 4, 1873, just two days after her birth.
The baptismal chapel, now a major pilgrimage focus, features the original font where Therese received the sacrament. A statue of the infant saint and explanatory panels help pilgrims meditate on this moment. The side chapel dedicated to Saints Louis and Zelie Martin contains their relics and serves as a place of veneration. The church's three naves, impressive stained glass windows depicting the Transfiguration, and richly carved wooden pulpit repay careful attention. The south porch, a masterpiece of Flamboyant Gothic carving, depicts scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary.
Maison Natale de Sainte Therese
Birthplace of Saint Therese
The house at 50 Rue Saint-Blaise, where Therese Martin was born and spent her first years, now operates as a sanctuary and place of pilgrimage. Acquired by the Diocese of Sees in 1910, the building has been carefully restored to evoke its appearance during the Martin family's residence. Pilgrims can visit the bedroom where Therese was born, see the family dining room, and walk through the garden where she took her first steps.
The rooms are arranged as a museum of Martin family life, with period furnishings, family photographs, and explanatory panels in multiple languages. A chapel occupies the ground floor, offering a space for prayer and Mass. The atmosphere is one of intimate domesticity, helping visitors understand how holiness was cultivated through the small acts of daily family life that Therese would later develop into her "Little Way."
Chapelle de l'Adoration
Chapel of Adoration
Located within the sanctuary complex, this chapel provides a place for Eucharistic adoration and quiet prayer. It serves pilgrims who wish to spend extended time in contemplation within the sacred space where the Martin family lived their faith.
Louis Martin's Watch Shop
Boutique de l'Horlogerie
Louis Martin operated his watchmaking and jewelry business from premises on the Rue du Pont-Neuf. While the original shop no longer exists as a commercial establishment, the building is marked with a commemorative plaque, and the street can be walked as part of a pilgrimage itinerary through the Martin family's Alencon.
🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
Feast of Saints Louis and Zelie Martin — July 12
The principal celebration honoring Therese's parents draws pilgrims to the Basilica and birthplace for solemn Masses, processions, and veneration of relics. The date marks their wedding anniversary in 1858. Special liturgies and events may extend over the weekend nearest to July 12.
Feast of Saint Therese of Lisieux — October 1
Though the main celebrations take place in Lisieux, Alencon also commemorates its native daughter with Masses and devotions at the Basilica and birthplace sanctuary.
Anniversary of Therese's Baptism — January 4
A special celebration marks the day when the infant Therese was baptized at Notre-Dame, with pilgrims gathering at the baptismal chapel to renew their own baptismal promises.
🛏️ Where to Stay
Maison d'Accueil du Sanctuaire (pilgrim accommodation) — The sanctuary guesthouse offers simple rooms for pilgrims seeking to stay close to the holy sites. Contact the sanctuary directly for availability and reservations. Website
Hotel des Ducs ⭐⭐⭐ — Comfortable hotel in the town center, a short walk from the Basilica and birthplace. Features restaurant and parking. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel
ibis Alencon ⭐⭐⭐ — Modern chain hotel on the outskirts with reliable amenities and easy parking for those arriving by car. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel
Le Grand Cerf ⭐⭐ — Traditional Norman inn offering characterful rooms in a historic building, located in the town center. Reserve this hotel
🚗 Getting There
By Air: The nearest international airport is Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), approximately 200 km east. Paris Orly is slightly closer. Car rental is available at both airports. Regional flights serve Caen-Carpiquet (110 km) and Rennes (160 km).
By Train: Alencon station receives direct TER services from Le Mans (approximately 45 minutes), with connections from Paris Montparnasse via Le Mans taking about 2 hours total. The station is a 15-minute walk from the town center.
By Car: From Paris, take the A11 motorway toward Le Mans, then the A28 toward Alencon (approximately 2 hours). From Lisieux, take the N138 south via Sees (approximately 1 hour 15 minutes). Parking is available near the Basilica and in the town center.
On Foot: Alencon is not directly on a major pilgrimage route, but pilgrims walking to Mont-Saint-Michel can incorporate the town into their itinerary.
📚 Further Reading
Books:
Helene Mongin, The Extraordinary Parents of St. Therese of Lisieux — Biography of Louis and Zelie Martin, drawing on their letters and family documents.
Louis and Zelie Martin, A Call to a Deeper Love: The Family Correspondence of the Parents of Saint Therese — The Martins' letters reveal the spiritual depth of their marriage and family life.
Celine Martin, The Father of the Little Flower: Louis Martin — Memoir by Therese's sister, painting an intimate portrait of their father.
Online Resources:
Sanctuary of Louis and Zelie Martin — Official pilgrimage site with visiting information and spiritual resources.
Diocese of Sees — Diocesan information for the region.
🎥 Recommended Videos
Saints Louis and Zelie Martin Documentary — EWTN documentary exploring the lives of Therese's parents and their path to canonization.
The Martin Family: A School of Holiness — Documentary examining how the Martin household produced one Doctor of the Church and two canonized saints.
🔗 Useful Links
Sanctuary of Saints Louis and Zelie Martin — Official sanctuary website with pilgrimage planning and Mass schedules.
Alencon Tourism Office — General visitor information for the town and region.
Society of the Little Flower — Comprehensive resource on the Martin family and St. Therese.
🥾 Pilgrim Routes
Alencon to Lisieux Pilgrimage — Pilgrims can follow in the Martin family's footsteps by traveling the route from Alencon to Lisieux (approximately 110 km), retracing the journey Louis made with his daughters after Zelie's death in 1877.
Chemins du Mont-Saint-Michel — Several pilgrimage routes to Mont-Saint-Michel pass through or near Alencon, allowing pilgrims to combine the Martin family sites with the great Norman shrine.
🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
Lisieux (110 km northwest) — The Basilica of Saint Therese, the Carmelite monastery where she lived and died, and Les Buissonnets family home complete the pilgrimage to Theresian sites.
Chartres (120 km east) — The great cathedral with its famed labyrinth and medieval stained glass, one of Europe's most important Marian shrines.
Mont-Saint-Michel (140 km west) — The dramatic island abbey dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of France's most iconic pilgrimage destinations.
Pontmain (90 km west) — Site of the 1871 Marian apparition during the Franco-Prussian War, with basilica and sanctuary.
🪶 Closing Reflection
"The good God gave me a father and mother more worthy of heaven than of earth." — St. Therese of Lisieux, Story of a Soul, 1897
