Essay () is a commune in the

Orne Orne (; or ) is a département in the northwest of France, named after the river Orne. It had a population of 279,942 in 2019.department in north-western

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

. The town is mainly known nowadays for its motorsports tracks, and hosted a round of the

2011 European Rallycross Championship The 2011 European Rallycross Championship was the thirty fifth season of the FIA European Championships for Rallycross Drivers. The season consisted of ten rounds and started on 24 April with the British round at Lydden Hill Race Circuit. The sea ...

Notable buildings and places

*Le circuit des Ducs - is a racing circuit that was built in 1975. The circuit that has been used to stage a round of the French rallycross championship and Fol'Car races.

National heritage sites

The commune has two buildings/areas listed as a

Monument historique () is a designation given to some national heritage sites in France. It may also refer to the state procedure in France by which national heritage protection is extended to a building, a specific part of a building, a collection of buildings, ...

. *Domaine de Beaufossé is an 18th century House and Estate, declared as a

in 2001. The gardens of the Estate were landscaped by Henri and

Achille Duchêne Achille Duchêne (1 November 1866 – 12 November 1947) was a French garden designer who worked in the grand manner established by André Le Nôtre. The son of the landscaper Henri Duchêne, Achille Duchêne was the garden designer most in demand a ...

. The Estate grounds are shared with the neighbouring commune of Boitron. *Chapel of the Dukes of Alençon is a 12th century chapel that was part of a castle originally built by

William of Bellême William of Bellême (960/5 – 1028) called William ''Princeps'', was the Seigneur of Bellême and a member of the House of Bellême. Life William was the son of Yves de Bellême and his wife Godeheut.Detlev Schwennicke, '' Europäische St ...

in 1088. It was listed as a monument in 1975.

Notable People

François Robichon de La Guérinière François Robichon de La Guérinière (1688–1751) was a French riding master who had a profound effect on accepted methods for horse training, and one of the most influential writers on the art of dressage. History De La Guérinière wa ...

(1688–1751) was a French riding master and one of the most influential writers on the art of

dressage Dressage ( or ; , most commonly translated as "training") is a form of horse riding performed in exhibition and competition, as well as an art sometimes pursued solely for the sake of mastery. As an equestrianism, equestrian sport defined by th ...

, was born here.

References

External links

Local motor sports
Communes of Orne Monuments historiques of Orne Motorsport venues in France {{Alençon-geo-stub

Notable buildings and places

National heritage sites

Notable People

See also

References

External links