Laval: Holiday apartments and holiday homes

Nature

The Jardin de la Perrine is located on a rocky spur overlooking the Mayenne valley. At the northern end of the rose garden, the imposing keep of the Vieux Château forms the foreground of the landscape. The Jardin de la Perrine is a botanical garden with children's play areas, animals and ponds; its rose garden was created in 1920 and contains around one hundred varieties of roses. In a museum area in the heart of the botanical garden is the Espace Alain Gerbault, which commemorates the sailor Alain Gerbault, who came from Laval and was the first person to sail around the world alone, from 1923 to 1929. The Vieux Château was built in the 11th century as a fortress along an old road that crossed the Mayenne. Visitors can explore it on a virtual tour, by climbing the main tower or on an underground “Spéléo-Visite”.

History

The Porte Beucheresse is the only surviving fortified entrance to the medieval town of Laval and illustrates the development of medieval military architecture. It preserves two semicircular towers and a narrow passage that was formerly protected by a portcullis and a double-leaf wooden gate.

Those planning a stay in Laval may wish to rent a holiday apartment for this purpose.

Culture

ZOOM is Laval's centre for scientific, technological and industrial culture and aims to provide everyone with information about science and technology.

The Basilique Notre-Dame d’Avesnières was extensively remodelled in the first half of the 12th century and has an ambulatory opening onto radially arranged chapels. Its nave was rebuilt in the Gothic style in the 15th century; the 1536 spire is made of yellow Poitou stone.

The Bateau-Lavoir Saint-Julien is considered Europe's last habitable laundry boat and can be entered by visitors. It was saved from sinking in 2009, restored as a living museum and relaunched in 2013.

The Chapelle Notre-Dame de Pritz contains exceptionally well-preserved wall paintings from the 12th to the 15th century. Groups of up to 50 people can visit it by prior reservation.

The Cathédrale Notre-Dame de la Trinité was built around 1070 and today combines Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture. Visitors can discover its various remodelling phases in the windows and vaults, as well as altarpieces, statues, a triptych, funerary monuments, tapestries and organs.

Les Bains Douches comprise 16 shower cubicles and 6 bathing cubicles; they were in operation until 2002. The richly decorated interior was created by the mosaic artist Isidore Odorico fils and is designed in the Art Deco style.

MANAS is dedicated to naïve and singular art and presents its collections and temporary exhibitions across 1,100 m². MANAS offers adapted tours for people with motor, intellectual, visual and hearing disabilities.

The Micro-Folie at Le Quarante allows visitors to discover the collections of 12 cooperating national museums and explore virtual reality. The Café du Quarante hosts workshops, conferences and small-scale artistic performances; visitors can participate in shaping its collaborative programme.

Local character

La Cité du Lait is a museum in Laval that explores milk from cultural, heritage, industrial and gastronomic perspectives. The heritage of milk is celebrated there through tours, informative events, educational workshops and numerous cultural and culinary events.

Getting around

The towpath along the Mayenne used by La Vélo Francette is not paved; the tourist office therefore recommends a trekking or mountain bike rather than a city bike or road bike.

Other destinations: Trans, Port-Brillet, Aron, Quelaines, Saint-Pierre-Sur-Orthe, Saint-Germain-Le-Fouilloux, Saint-Mars-Sur-Colmont, Brécé

To the higher-level travel overview: Mayenne.