Essay, Orne

Essay 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. 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.


 * Domaine de Beaufossé is an 18th century House and Estate, declared as a Monument historique in 2001. The gardens of the Estate were landscaped by Henri and Achille Duchêne. 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 in 1088. It was listed as a monument in 1975.

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.