Essay, Orne Explained

Essay (pronounced as /fr/) is a commune in the Orne department in north-western France. The town is mainly known nowadays for its motorsports tracks, and hosted a round of the 2011 European Rallycross Championship.

Notable buildings and places

• Le circuit des Ducs - is a racing circuit that was built in 1975.^[2] The circuit that has been used to stage a round of the French rallycross championship and Fol'Car races.^{[3] [4]}

National heritage sites

The commune has two buildings/areas listed as a Monument historique.^[5]

• Domaine de Beaufossé is an 18th century House and Estate, declared as a Monument historique in 2001.^[6] The gardens of the Estate were landscaped by Henri and Achille Duchêne.^[6] The Estate grounds are shared with the neighbouring commune of Boitron.^[7]
• Chapel of the Dukes of Alençon is a 12th century chapel that was part of a castle originally built by William of Bellême in 1088.^[8] It was listed as a monument in 1975.^[8]

Notable People

• François Robichon de La Guérinière (1688–1751) was a French riding master and one of the most influential writers on the art of dressage, was born here.^[9]

See also

• Communes of the Orne department
• Normandie-Maine Regional Natural Park

External links

• Local motor sports

Notes and References

1. Web site: Répertoire national des élus: les maires. data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022. fr.
2. Web site: Circuit des Ducs (Essay) - Informations. en.europatrackdays.com.
3. Web site: Rallycross. Premier feu vert pour le circuit des Ducs, le championnat de France espéré en 2024. 25 March 2023. actu.fr.
4. Web site: Ce qu'il faut savoir avant le Fol'Car des Ducs, samedi 25 et dimanche 26 mars. 23 March 2023. actu.fr.
5. Web site: Les Monuments Historiques en Orne - 61. monumentum.fr.
6. Web site: Domaine de Beaufossé (également sur commune de Boitron) à Essay - PA61000055. monumentum.fr.
7. Web site: Domaine de Beaufossé à Boitron - PA61000054. monumentum.fr.
8. Web site: Chapelle des ducs d'Alençon à Essay - PA00110801. monumentum.fr.
9. Web site: François Robichon de la Guérinière. Roche. Daniel. FranceArchives.