Alençon: The Martins' House Reduced to Ashes

Eight of the Martin children—except for the saint—were born in this house. While the exact circumstances of the disaster remain unclear, how can we not see it as a symbol of a traditional France trampled underfoot by barbarians from peripheries so close and yet, in some ways, so distant?

The Alençon watchmaker's shop, located in the heart of the town, was much more than a simple artisanal workshop. It embodied the legacy of Louis Martin, a professional watchmaker, and Zélie Guérin, a renowned lacemaker, whose union gave birth to a family marked by deep faith and exemplary holiness.

It was in this space, where Louis practiced his craft with meticulous care, that the couple lived part of their daily lives, raising their children, including the future St. Thérèse, in a spirit of piety and charity. The carefully preserved workshop had become a place of pilgrimage, attracting visitors from around the world eager to discover the humble and authentic setting where the Martins cultivated their vocation.

Owned by the Alençon sanctuary, the watchmaking house housed the couple's personal belongings, including work tools, letters, and family memorabilia. These relics, witnesses to their ordinary life sublimated by grace, constituted an invaluable spiritual heritage. The site was also a focal point for pilgrims, who found inspiration and contemplation there, particularly couples seeking to emulate the Martins' loyalty and love.

The arson attack broke out around midnight on the night of June 2-3, 2025. According to initial press reports, a car "unintentionally" drove into the building, which now houses a branch of the  AXA insurance company, spreading the fire throughout the building, reducing it to ashes within a few hours. Despite the rapid intervention of firefighters, the flames, fanned by ancient and flammable materials, caused irreversible damage.

The loss of the watchmaking workshop is all the more painful given that many precious objects, including artifacts related to the Martins' lives, were destroyed. A few pieces, kept in a secure room, are believed to have escaped the flames, but the exact extent of the losses remains to be assessed.

The Alençon shrine, deeply affected, expressed its sadness in a statement, while calling for unity and prayer in the face of this ordeal.

The news of the fire sparked deep emotion, both in Alençon and beyond. For residents, the clockworks represented a symbol of local pride, rooted in the town's spiritual history. Bishop Jacques Habert of Bayeux-Lisieux expressed his "deep sorrow" at the loss of this site.

Messages of support are pouring in on social media, with some pilgrims already proposing fundraising for the reconstruction. The shrine, in conjunction with the municipality of Alençon, is considering steps to assess the possibility of restoring the site or creating a new memorial. However, the loss of the original, irreplaceable objects will make this task difficult.