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Laval () is a town in western
France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan ar ...
, about west-southwest of
Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. ...
, and the capital of the Mayenne department. Its inhabitants are called ''Lavallois''. The commune of Laval proper, without the metropolitan area, is the 7th most populous in the Pays de la Loire region and the 132nd in France.Téléchargement du fichier d'ensemble des populations légales en 2017
INSEE
A part of the traditional
province A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman ''provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions outsi ...
of
Maine Maine () is a U.S. state, state in the New England and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Provinces and territories of Canad ...
before the
French Revolution The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are conside ...
, which now split between two departments, Mayenne and Sarthe, Laval also lies on the threshold of
Brittany Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica during the period o ...
and is not far from
Normandy Normandy (; french: link=no, Normandie ; nrf, Normaundie, Nouormandie ; from Old French , plural of ''Normant'', originally from the word for "northman" in several Scandinavian languages) is a geographical and cultural region in Northwestern ...
and Anjou. It was thus an important stronghold in northwestern France during the
Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...
. Laval became a city during the 11th century, and was the cradle of the House of Laval, one of the most powerful families in Maine and Brittany. The counts of Laval developed a textile industry around 1300 and made Laval a significant centre for the French Renaissance a century later. The linen industry remained the principal activity in Laval until the 20th century, when milk processing became more profitable. Laval developed around a promontory, on which the castle was built, and along the river Mayenne. The Laval metropolitan area is a small economic centre in western France, particularly active in the industrial sector, dairy production, electronics and chemicals. Laval is economically oriented towards Rennes, the administrative capital of the
region of Brittany Brittany (french: Bretagne ; br, Breizh ); Gallo language, Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is the westernmost regions of France, region of Metropolitan France. It covers about four fifths of the territory of the historic province of Brittany. Its capit ...
, and located only west of Laval. Laval proper covers and has a population of 49,573 inhabitants, while c. 144,000 live in its metropolitan area (). The Laval Agglomération intercommunality is made up of 34 communes covering with 113,000 inhabitants. Laval is notably the birthplace of Henri Rousseau, a major
Naïve Naivety (also spelled naïvety), naiveness, or naïveté is the state of being naive. It refers to an apparent or actual lack of experience and sophistication, often describing a neglect of pragmatism in favor of moral idealism. A ''naïve'' may b ...
painter, and the town has a museum dedicated to him and other Naïve artists. Laval also enjoys a significant architectural heritage, with its castle, portions of city walls, medieval houses, old bridges and churches.


Toponymy

Laval is a relatively new foundation in comparison to other
French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
cities. That is to say that the
borough A borough is an administrative division in various English-speaking countries. In principle, the term ''borough'' designates a self-governing walled town, although in practice, official use of the term varies widely. History In the Middle ...
was not officially mentioned prior to the 11th century. According to legend glorifying the Counts of Laval, mediaeval chroniclers portrayed the citizens of Laval as being the offspring of
Charles Martel Charles Martel ( – 22 October 741) was a Frankish political and military leader who, as Duke and Prince of the Franks and Mayor of the Palace, was the de facto ruler of Francia from 718 until his death. He was a son of the Frankish state ...
's grandson Wala of Corbie. By virtue of the chroniclers' accounts, ''Laval'' should be a synonym for "Vala" or "Valla"—the two spelling variants of "Wala". Etymologically spoken, however, the name of ''Laval'', in all likelihood, merely stands for "the valley" in
French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
("la vallée" in contemporary language), to capture the lush valley of the Mayenne river, wherein ''Laval'' is situated. This name commonly appears in other French location names, sometimes with a second word, such as in ''
Laval-d'Aurelle Laval-d'Aurelle (; Auvergnat: ''L'Aval d'Aurèla'') is a former commune in the Ardèche department in southern France. On 1 January 2019, it was merged into the new commune Saint-Laurent-les-Bains-Laval-d'Aurelle.Ardèche) or '' Laval-sur-Doulon'' (
Haute-Loire Haute-Loire (; oc, Naut Léger or ''Naut Leir''; English: Upper Loire) is a landlocked department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of south-central France. Named after the Loire River, it is surrounded by the departments of Loire, Ardèche, ...
). The first mention of the town was the
Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power ...
''Vallis Guidonis'', meaning "Guy's valley", because the counts of Laval were all called ''Guy''. On its side, the castle was usually named ''Castrum Guidonis'' or ''Aula Guidonis'' ("Guy's castle" and "Guy's palace"). During the 11th century, Laval is also called ''Castrum Vallis'' or simply ''Vallis''; and ''Lavallis'' appears in 1080. Other Latin names include ''Valles'' and ''Castrum de Valibus''. ''Lavallum Guidonis'' is first written in 1239. After the
Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass id ...
, ''Lavallis'' and ''Lavallium'' are both commonly used by the clergy and the scholars. As in Latin, the name evolved in French from ''Laval-Guion'' or ''Laval-Guyon'' to ''Laval'' in one single word. Laval is one of the few cities in the world to have a palindrome as a name, as ''Laval'' can be read the same way in either direction.


Geography


Location

Laval is located at the geographical centre of the Mayenne department, on the road which connects
Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. ...
to
Brittany Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica during the period o ...
, between Rennes and Le Mans. The town is situated on the middle course of the Mayenne, a river which has its source in
Normandy Normandy (; french: link=no, Normandie ; nrf, Normaundie, Nouormandie ; from Old French , plural of ''Normant'', originally from the word for "northman" in several Scandinavian languages) is a geographical and cultural region in Northwestern ...
and runs towards the Loire crossing the Mayenne department from North to South. Laval is located approximately from Rennes, from Le Mans and Angers, from Nantes, from
Tours Tours ( , ) is one of the largest cities in the region of Centre-Val de Loire, France. It is the prefecture of the department of Indre-et-Loire. The commune of Tours had 136,463 inhabitants as of 2018 while the population of the whole metr ...
, from
Caen Caen (, ; nrf, Kaem) is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the department of Calvados. The city proper has 105,512 inhabitants (), while its functional urban area has 470,000,Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. ...
. It is also far from Le Mont-Saint-Michel and the surrounding sea resorts, located on the
English Channel The English Channel, "The Sleeve"; nrf, la Maunche, "The Sleeve" ( Cotentinais) or (Jèrriais), ( Guernésiais), "The Channel"; br, Mor Breizh, "Sea of Brittany"; cy, Môr Udd, "Lord's Sea"; kw, Mor Bretannek, "British Sea"; nl, Het Kan ...
. Elevation varies between 42 and 122 meters
above sea level Height above mean sea level is a measure of the vertical distance (height, elevation or altitude) of a location in reference to a historic mean sea level taken as a vertical datum. In geodesy, it is formalized as '' orthometric heights''. The ...
. Laval is, in fact, a hilly town, marked by a rocky promontory dominating the valley of the Mayenne river. The castle was built on this promontory and the medieval centre spreads around. The promontory and the slightly hilly landscape around Laval are traces of the Armorican Massif, an old range of mountains that forms the Breton peninsula. The town is surrounded by agricultural land essentially made of large fields. The traditional
bocage Bocage (, ) is a terrain of mixed woodland and pasture characteristic of parts of Northern France, Southern England, Ireland, the Netherlands and Northern Germany, in regions where pastoral farming is the dominant land use. ''Bocage'' may ...
with its old hedgerows is still partially visible. Laval is also surrounded by several forests, such as the ''Forêt de Concise'', with c. 600 hectares, and the ''Bois de l'Huisserie'', with 254 hectares. Both are located south of the town.


Metropolitan area

The commune of Laval is bordered by seven other communes. These are, clockwise, Changé, Bonchamp-lès-Laval, Forcé, Entrammes, L'Huisserie, Montigné-le-Brillant and Saint-Berthevin. Saint-Berthevin forms part of the agglomeration, and Changé and Bonchamp-lès-Laval are well integrated, but the other communes remain rural areas with villages and hamlets. 26 other communes situated farther form with them the Communauté d'agglomération Laval Agglomération. They unite c. 113,000 inhabitants.


Climate

Laval enjoys a very mild climate because of its proximity with the
Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the "Old World" of Afr ...
and the
English Channel The English Channel, "The Sleeve"; nrf, la Maunche, "The Sleeve" ( Cotentinais) or (Jèrriais), ( Guernésiais), "The Channel"; br, Mor Breizh, "Sea of Brittany"; cy, Môr Udd, "Lord's Sea"; kw, Mor Bretannek, "British Sea"; nl, Het Kan ...
, giving it an oceanic climate. Winters are usually wet, with scarce frosts and snowfalls, and summers are warm and sunny, although rainfalls are common.


Urban morphology

The oldest streets and buildings in Laval are located around the promontory where the castle stands. The urban structure there dates back from the Middle Ages and is limited to the western bank of the Mayenne river. This old core is today the main shopping area, with several pedestrian streets and little shops. Several medieval half-timbered houses are still visible, but most of the buildings are dating from the 18th and 19th centuries and are made of tufa. The suburb of Avesnières, located one kilometer () south of the castle, is a former commune which merged with Laval in 1863. Founded in 1073, it still comprises several old houses and a medieval basilica. Other large medieval hamlets absorbed by the town include Le Bourg Hersend and Saint-Martin. The eastern bank of the Mayenne was also settled in the Middle Ages, along the street that leads to the bridge crossing the river, but it was mostly developed during the second half of the 19th century when the train station was built there. The old faubourgs surrounding the town centre date from the same period and are mainly composed of individual houses. The 20th-century suburbs comprise some council estates but individual houses are much more common. Some shopping centres and several industrial areas are located on the outskirts of the town. Laval is encircled by a small ring road and the
Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. ...
- Rennes highway bypasses the town by the North. Until the 20th century, Laval had had a port on the Mayenne river, which was surrounded by several factories, mainly linen manufactures. The old industrial areas were redeveloped after 1970 and the river has since become a recreational area. File:LDROUSSEAU.jpg, Aerial view of the Lycée Douanier Rousseau on the eastern bank of the Mayenne river. File:Laval Town 2007 05.jpg, The medieval town is still encircled by several portions of city walls. File:Vue de Laval.jpg, View on the Mayenne river and on the faubourg of Avesnières, south of the centre.


Green areas

Laval is a small town and nature is not far away from the centre. The town manages 25 hectares of parks and gardens, and 200 hectares of green areas in total. The largest park is the ''Jardin de la Perrine'', located in the centre, at the top of a rocky promontory. Formerly a private garden, it encircles an 18th-century mansion and comprises a French and an English garden as well as a rose garden, an orangery and a small menagerie. This park encompasses 4,5 hectares. Henri Rousseau, a major
Naïve Naivety (also spelled naïvety), naiveness, or naïveté is the state of being naive. It refers to an apparent or actual lack of experience and sophistication, often describing a neglect of pragmatism in favor of moral idealism. A ''naïve'' may b ...
artist born in Laval, is buried there. Apart from the Jardin de la Perrine, the main green areas in the centre are the ''Square de Boston'', refurbished in 2012, and the ''Square Foch'', located on the ''place du 11-Novembre'', which is the central point of the town. The commune of Laval owns the ''Bois Gamats'', a 25 hectares wood located on the southern hedge of the town. The neighbouring ''Bois de l'Huisserie'', much bigger, is managed by Laval Agglomération.


History


Heraldry

The coat of arms of Laval is: ''gules, a lion passant guardant''. The coat of arms were those of the House of Laval, and not to the city. Still, several members of the family permitted the town to use their arms, notably in 1211, when the direct branch died, and in 1464. The House of Laval had a motto, ''Eadem mensura'' ("of same measure"), which is sometimes associated with the town of Laval. In 1987, the municipality adopted a logotype, replaced in 2010 by a new one which uses the heraldic lion as well as the palindrome as the two symbols of Laval. This logotype is made of "Laval" written in capital letters, with the final "L" held by the lion and reversed to suggest the palindrome.


Middle Ages

Before the construction of the castle during the 11th century, Laval did not exist. However, the site of the town was already a thoroughfare because it was located on the Roman road that connected Le Mans to Corseul, a provincial capital in present-day
Brittany Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica during the period o ...
. Moreover, some parts of the city territory had been settled by the Gauls. For instance, a Gallic stele has been unearthed in the suburb of Pritz, north of the centre. The chapel of Pritz was on its side first mentioned in 710. The body of Tudwal, a Breton Saint, is believed to have been brought to Laval in 870 or 878, during a Norman invasion in Brittany. The site of Laval had a strategic importance because the travelers taking the Roman road had to cross there the Mayenne river on a ford. The western bank of the river was further dominated by a rocky promontory which could ensure a total control on the ford. During the 10th century, a first military structure was built on it, and a villa was mentioned there at the end of the century in a charter issued by the count of
Maine Maine () is a U.S. state, state in the New England and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Provinces and territories of Canad ...
. Around 1020, Herbert I of Maine offered the new barony of Laval to Guy I, who became the first lord of the town. Guy I of Laval built a new castle and the town slowly appeared around the Roman road and on the river banks. The castle built by Guy I was much wider than the present-day structure. It was encircled by an earthen wall and it spread from the present-day keep to the cathedral. A motte built over the wall commanded the access to the top of the promontory, where the Lords lived, and the second motte was probably located inside the compound. The basilica in Avesnières, located several kilometers south of the castle, was founded in the 12th century by Guy III. Around 1200, the earthen wall was pulled down and the castle became smaller, taking its present-day appearance. The town developed on its side its own defense system. Beatrix of Gavere, the wife of Guy IX de Laval, who lived in the 13th century, is believed to be at the origin of the textile tradition of the town. Born in
Flanders Flanders (, ; Dutch: ''Vlaanderen'' ) is the Flemish-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to cultu ...
, she would have brought Flemish weavers with her, and would have encouraged linen production. Linen weaving remained the main economic activity of the town until the 19th century. During the
Hundred Years' War The Hundred Years' War (; 1337–1453) was a series of armed conflicts between the kingdoms of England and France during the Late Middle Ages. It originated from disputed claims to the French throne between the English House of Plantag ...
, the town was taken by the English in 1428, commended by John Talbot. It became French again a year later. The fighting occasioned great damages and the town was fully rebuilt afterwards. Thus all the half-timbered houses that still stand in the medieval centre were not built before the 15th century. During that period, the town's walls were completed by the addition of a powerful
artillery Artillery is a class of heavy military ranged weapons that launch munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during sieg ...
fort in an innovative design, known as the ''Tour Renaise''. Around 1450, Guy XIV de Laval had the castle refurbished. New rooms and halls were built, and new Gothic windows were opened on the courtyard at the beginning of the 16th century.


Modern period

Guy XVII built a
Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass id ...
gallery in extension to the castle around 1542. The gallery was later slightly redecorated in 1747. Guy XVII was a member of the Court of
Francis I Francis I or Francis the First may refer to: * Francesco I Gonzaga (1366–1407) * Francis I, Duke of Brittany (1414–1450), reigned 1442–1450 * Francis I of France (1494–1547), King of France, reigned 1515–1547 * Francis I, Duke of Saxe ...
, one of the greatest kings of the French Renaissance. The House of Laval played a certain role in the development of the Renaissance arts in the region. Jean of Laval-Châteaubriant built for instance a large palace at the château de Châteaubriant, located in
Brittany Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica during the period o ...
. On his side, Guy XIX became a
Huguenot The Huguenots ( , also , ) were a religious group of French Protestants who held to the Reformed, or Calvinist, tradition of Protestantism. The term, which may be derived from the name of a Swiss political leader, the Genevan burgomaster Bez ...
. During the 17th century, Laval became very prosperous and the Counter-Reformation led to the foundation of many religious institutions. Large convents were opened, including Ursulines, Benedictines and Capuchins. All these convents were later sold and demolished during the
French Revolution The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are conside ...
. During the 18th century, the town, which had kept its medieval appearance, started to expand. New faubourgs appeared, and the local aristocracy built there many elegant hôtels particuliers, particularly around the ''place de Hercé'', which became the most fashionable area of Laval. In the middle of the 18th century, Laval had around 18,000 inhabitants and 3,525 households. It was the second most populous town in
Maine Maine () is a U.S. state, state in the New England and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Provinces and territories of Canad ...
, after Le Mans. It enjoyed several institutions, such as a présidial, an office of the ferme générale, a local jurisdiction, a hospital, a
gendarmery Wrong info! --> A gendarmerie () is a military force with law enforcement duties among the civilian population. The term ''gendarme'' () is derived from the medieval French expression ', which translates to "men-at-arms" (literally, " ...
and a city hall. Laval was also at the head of a pays d'élection (fiscal region) encompassing 65 parishes in southern Maine. Because it was located close to the Breton border, Laval had a large salt storehouse, which controlled the collect of the gabelle, a tax on salt. Because Brittany was a large salt producer, it was exempted from gabelle, but people living in
Maine Maine () is a U.S. state, state in the New England and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Provinces and territories of Canad ...
, or other hinterland provinces, had to buy a certain amount of salt every year, thus paying the gabelle was compulsory for them. A salt storehouse such as the one in Laval was therefore a tax office and it had to deal with salt contraband. 26 fairs were held each year in the pays d'élection, and three markets were held in the town. At that time Laval was made up of three parishes. The textile industry in Laval reached its zenith just before the
French Revolution The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are conside ...
. The town had the right to produce eight sorts of cloth, including the ''royales'' and ''demi-Hollande'', which were among the finest linen weaved in France. The neighbouring towns of Mayenne and Château-Gontier also had the right to produce linen, but in only three or four kinds of cloth. The ''royales'' and ''demi-Hollande'' were the best linen of Laval, as well as the most expensive. A ''demi-Hollande'' could cost up to 700 pounds, and a ''toile forte'', the cheapest one, had a worth of 50 pounds. The other sorts of linen made in Laval were also cheap and of a low quality, but they represented the largest share of the total production. The linen of Laval were sold mainly in France, but also abroad. The rustic ''non-battues'' were only made for the Spanish market, some of the best linen were sold in
Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, In recognized minority languages of Portugal: :* mwl, República Pertuesa is a country located on the Iberian Peninsula, in Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Macaronesian ...
and the stronger clothes were exported to the French colonies in America. The ''royales'' and the ''demi-Hollande'' were usually sold in Troyes, Senlis and Beauvais, three towns located around Paris, which were renowned for their markets. Laval also produced a specific kind of linen, the ''pontivy'', for the French army. In the 18th century, the old medieval centre was still encircled by city walls, and its narrow plots and streets forbade any large urban transformation. However, the authorities planned to build a large thoroughfare bypassing the centre by the north. That involved the construction of a new bridge on the Mayenne river, because at that time Laval only had one, which was small and very old. The project was validated in 1758, but works did not start before 1804. The idea of a new axis was important not only for the town, but also for the whole region, because Laval was on the road between
Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. ...
and
Brittany Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica during the period o ...
. Every traveler taking that road had to cross the Mayenne river on the old bridge, and to cross the insalubrious and narrow walled town. The War in the Vendée, which opposed French revolutionaries and Royalist Catholics during the last decade of the 18th century, started in the ''département'' of Vendée, located south of the Loire, but it quickly spread in
Brittany Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica during the period o ...
, Anjou and
Maine Maine () is a U.S. state, state in the New England and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Provinces and territories of Canad ...
, which were Catholic strongholds. Laval, which had been under the control of the revolutionaries since 1789, was seized by the Royalists 22 October 1793. The town was on their itinerary to the
English Channel The English Channel, "The Sleeve"; nrf, la Maunche, "The Sleeve" ( Cotentinais) or (Jèrriais), ( Guernésiais), "The Channel"; br, Mor Breizh, "Sea of Brittany"; cy, Môr Udd, "Lord's Sea"; kw, Mor Bretannek, "British Sea"; nl, Het Kan ...
, where they were waiting for reinforcement. However, the expedition to
Normandy Normandy (; french: link=no, Normandie ; nrf, Normaundie, Nouormandie ; from Old French , plural of ''Normant'', originally from the word for "northman" in several Scandinavian languages) is a geographical and cultural region in Northwestern ...
was a total failure, and they were defeated there by the Republican army. The Royalists came back to Laval 25 December 1793, but they lost a siege in Angers and were definitely defeated in 1794.


Contemporary period

After the
French Revolution The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are conside ...
, the local authorities decided to achieve the master plan planned in the 18th century. The new bridge was completed in 1824 and the new East-West axis, bypassing the old centre by the North, was developed during the 1820s and 1830s. A new town centre emerged on the axis, and a new square was built close to the bridge. Several official buildings were constructed around, including a new city hall, the préfecture and a theatre. Around the new bridge, the Mayenne river was deviated to form a straight waterway, and new quays were built between 1844 and 1863. After 1850, major works were carried in the medieval centre: several new streets were built and the square in front of the castle was enlarged. In 1855, Laval obtained a
diocese In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associat ...
and a railway station. That year, trains coming from Paris had their terminus in Laval, but the line was further extended towards
Brittany Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica during the period o ...
in 1856. Laval experienced a significant demographic growth throughout the 19th century. It had 15,000 inhabitants around 1800, and that figure rose to 21,293 in 1861. Two years later, the neighbouring communes of Avesnières and Grenoux were absorbed into Laval, together with parts of Changé. As a consequence of this amalgamation, Laval counted 27,000 inhabitants by 1863. In 1866, the town numbered 30,627 inhabitants, but then it experienced a slight decline which lasted until the end of the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
. This decline was due to both socio-economical and geopolitical factors: * the decline of the textile industry: At the beginning of the 19th century, linen prices dropped, and the region stopped to produce flax. Instead, the factories in Laval imported
cotton Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus '' Gossypium'' in the mallow family Malvaceae. The fiber is almost pure cellulose, and can contain minor p ...
, but process costs were too high for the activity to be profitable. * the invasions by
Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG),, is a country in Central Europe. It is the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany lies between the Baltic and North Sea to the north and the Alps to the sou ...
and ensuing costs caused by these invasions, both in terms reparations and the human misery. At the beginning of the 20th century, Laval had several institutions, such as courts of justice, a chamber of commerce, a board of trade-arbitrators, a
seminary A seminary, school of theology, theological seminary, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called ''seminarians'') in scripture, theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clergy ...
and a secondary school for boys. The declining textile industry was still employing 10,000 hands in Laval and its suburbs. Other activities included metal-founding, flour-milling, tanning, dyeing, the making of boots and shoes, and the sawing of marble. During the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
, Laval was occupied by
Nazi Germany Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...
. The town was bombed several times by the Allies in June and July 1944. The train station and the surrounding area, as well as the viaduct and some streets in the centre were heavily damaged. General Patton's troops arrived in Laval 6 August 1944. The German occupiers did not surrender immediately, and they destroyed the bridges before leaving the town at around 3pm. After the war, Laval experienced a quick industrialisation. Most of the old cloth factories were closed down and the town developed instead a large food processing sector, particularly dairies. It also developed plastics processing and car manufacturing. During that period, the town quickly expanded and several new institutions were built, such as a campus and a new hospital.


Population

The population data in the table and graph below refer to the commune of Laval proper, in its geography at the given years. The commune of Laval absorbed the former communes of Notre-Dame-d'Avenières and Grenoux (partly) in 1863.


Education

The city counts 27
primary school A primary school (in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and South Africa), junior school (in Australia), elementary school or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary ed ...
s (écoles primaires), 8
middle school A middle school (also known as intermediate school, junior high school, junior secondary school, or lower secondary school) is an educational stage which exists in some countries, providing education between primary school and secondary school ...
s (collèges) and 7
high school A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper seconda ...
s (lycées). Some institutions also provide higher education in Laval like : * ESTACA * ESIEA (university) *
Le Mans University Le Mans University (French: ''Le Mans Université''; formerly ''Université du Maine'') is a public university in western France with campuses in Le Mans and Laval. It is part of thAngers-Le Mans University Community Composition In accordan ...
* Catholic University of the West


Economy

The town is historically a manufacturer of fine linens, but there are also foundries. Laval is also home to the Laval and Mayenne Technology Park, where firms working in
electronics The field of electronics is a branch of physics and electrical engineering that deals with the emission, behaviour and effects of electrons using electronic devices. Electronics uses active devices to control electron flow by amplification ...
,
computing Computing is any goal-oriented activity requiring, benefiting from, or creating computing machinery. It includes the study and experimentation of algorithmic processes, and development of both hardware and software. Computing has scientific, ...
and peripherals, food technology, veterinary pharmaceuticals, virtual reality, audiovisual productions, patents, marketing and a resource centre are all to be found in modern buildings. It is also an important centre for the dairy industry and produces cheeses, ultra-high-temperature processing milk, and yoghurt. It is the headquarters of Lactalis. There is a market in the town centre every Tuesday and Saturday, held near the former ''Palais de Justice''.


Transport


Railway

The Laval railway station offers regional connections with Le Mans, Rennes, Angers, and Nantes with TER Pays de la Loire and long range connections to the main cities of the country like
Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. ...
, Strasbourg or
Lille Lille ( , ; nl, Rijsel ; pcd, Lile; vls, Rysel) is a city in the northern part of France, in French Flanders. On the river Deûle, near France's border with Belgium, it is the capital of the Hauts-de-France region, the prefecture of the Nord ...
with TGV.


Roads

The motorway A81 passes just in the north of Laval, linking the city to Paris and
Brittany Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica during the period o ...
. Several other main roads cross in Laval which gives the city direct roads to Rennes, Le Mans, Angers, Tours and Nantes.


Public transport

The bus network operating in Laval is called TUL (Transports Urbains Lavallois). It is made of 17 urban lines for the city of Laval and its close suburb, including 4 which work from Monday to Sunday. Laval also has a bicycle-sharing system called Vélitul.


Administration


Cantons

Since the French canton reorganisation which came into effect in March 2015, the town of Laval is subdivided into three cantons: * The canton of Laval-1 is composed of part of Laval (19,538 inhabitants in 2014); * The canton of Laval-2 is composed of part of Laval (16,377 inhabitants); * The canton of Laval-3 is composed of part of Laval (14,158 inhabitants).


Agglomeration

The urban area of Laval Agglomération covers 34 communes.


Mayors of Laval

* See list of mayors The following are the most recent mayors. * François d'Aubert (1995–2004) (left the mayoralty on entering the Ministry for Research) *
Roland Houdiard Roland (; frk, *Hrōþiland; lat-med, Hruodlandus or ''Rotholandus''; it, Orlando or ''Rolando''; died 15 August 778) was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the ...
(2004–2005) * François d'Aubert (2005–2008) (returned as mayor following a change of government) *
Guillaume Garot Guillaume Garot (born 29 May 1966) is a French politician of the Socialist Party (PS) who has served as a member of the National Assembly from 2007 until 2012 and since 2014, representing the Mayenne department. From 2012 until 2014, he was Ju ...
(2008-2012) * Jean-Christophe Boyer (2012-2014) * François Zocchetto (2014-2020) *
Florian Bercault Florian may refer to: People * Florian (name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the given name or surname * Florian, Roman emperor in 276 AD * Saint Florian (250 – c. 304 AD), patron saint of Poland and Upper Austria, al ...
(since 2020)


Main sights

* Medieval
Château de Laval The Laval Castle (in French: ''Château de Laval'') is a castle located in Laval, in the French department of Mayenne. Its foundation in the 10th century allowed the birth of the city. Emblematic monument of Laval, it occupies a rocky promontory ...
(tower and building) * Significant remains of the town walls and of a town gate. The town came together around the foundation of the castle in 1020 in its position in the march, the border lands between France and Brittany. It was built for Guy I of Dénéré who became a vassal of the Count of Maine. at the end of the 12th century, local troubles combined with the town's position on the road into
Brittany Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica during the period o ...
led the lord of Laval to build a great round keep which still has its original hoarding. At first the town was composed of scattered settlements such as the ''bourg cheverel'' and the ''bourg hersent''. However, from the time of the new castle, it grew rapidly. It was enclosed in ramparts from the 13th century. There were five gates in the walls of which the sole one remaining is the ''porte Beucheresse'' or gate of the woodcutters. *
Cathedral A cathedral is a church that contains the ''cathedra'' () of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually specific to those Christian denominatio ...
of the
Trinity The Christian doctrine of the Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the central dogma concerning the nature of God in most Christian churches, which defines one God existing in three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God the ...
(''La Trinité''). Pre-Romanesque and Romanesque characteristically, it has rich wall paintings and figurative stone carving but the general architectural style of the buildings is restrained. In Laval, that architectural sobriety was retained through the early Gothic period. The painting can be seen well in the calendars in ''Notre-Dame de Pritz, Saint-Martin'', and ''Saint-Pierre-le-Potier''. The architecture shows best at ''Grenoux'', and ''Avesnières''; while the stone carving is well displayed in the zoomorphic column capitals at ''Avesnières''. The early Gothic, what in England would be called Early English but in Laval is Angevin Gothic, is to be seen in ''la Trinité''. Here we are close to Anjou, the home of the Angevin kings of England beginning with Henry II. In the Cathedral, on the effigy tomb of the bishop
Louis Bougaud Émile Bougaud, born Edme Louis Victor Bougaud (b. at Dijon, 25 February 1823, d. at Laval, Mayenne, Laval, 7 November 1888) was French, known as a writer and preacher. He became Bishop of Laval. He was an influential writer, aiming to reconcile ...
(1888), the following inscription may be read: :HEIC IN PACE QVIE SCIT :LUDOVICVS BOVGAVD EPISCOPUS VALLEGVIDONENSIS DECESSIT VII IDVS NOVEMB AN MDCCCLXXXVIII (1888) :ANNOS NATVS LXV.M.V.III.D.VII :VIVAS IN DEO *The ''
Jardin botanique de la Perrine The Jardin botanique de la Perrine is a botanical garden located along the river Mayenne on the Allée Adrien-Bruneau, Laval, Mayenne, Pays de la Loire, France. It is open daily without charge. The garden was created in 1920 by Jules Denier on ...
'', a
botanical garden A botanical garden or botanic gardenThe terms ''botanic'' and ''botanical'' and ''garden'' or ''gardens'' are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word ''botanic'' is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens, an ...
and park


Arts

The town has obtained the label Ville d'Art et d'Histoire from the fact of its rich heritage. As a response to the Douanier Rousseau's having been born in Laval, there is a biennial festival of naive art, the ''Biennale Internationale d'Art naïf de Laval''. It seeks to explore the course of modern primitivism. Pictures are brought from all round Europe.


Sport

Stade Lavallois, is the local professional football side. Lavallois plays its home matches at the Stade Francis Le Basser located in the city of Laval, and is managed by Denis Zanko.


Notable people

* Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, professional footballer * Emmanuel Besnier, billionaire * Éric Boullier, motorsport engineer *
Grégory Bourillon Grégory Bourillon (born 1 July 1984) is a French former professional footballer who played as a defender. Career Bourillon signed for Stade Rennais in 2000 from hometown club Laval. He represented France at Under-21 level. Bourillon develope ...
, professional footballer * Francis Coquelin, professional footballer * Odile Decq, architect *
René Diehl René Diehl (1912–1980) was a French archaeologist. 1912 births 1980 deaths École Centrale Paris alumni French archaeologists 20th-century archaeologists {{France-scientist-stub ...
, archaeologist * Alain Gerbault, sailor, writer, tennis champion * Jean-Marie Guyau, writer and philosopher *
Géo Ham Géo Ham, Georges Hamel (18 September 1900 in Laval, Mayenne, France – June 1972 in Paris) was a French painter and illustrator. He is known for his illustrations of aeroplanes or automobiles which appeared in ''L'Illustration''. In 1918 ...
, illustrator and designer * Alfred Jarry (1873–1907), writer *
Charles Landelle Zacharie Charles Landelle (2 June 1821 – 13 October 1908) was a French painter who specialized in portraits. He is best known for his Orientalist works. Biography He was born in Laval, where his father was employed by the préfecture. In 18 ...
, painter * Madeleine Laurain-Portemer (1917–1996), historian * François de Laval (1623–1708), first bishop of Quebec * Louis Lemercier de Neuville, dramatic author and puppeteer * Thibault de Montalembert, actor *
Prosper Mortou Prosper Mortou (1482–1566) was a French musician and painter Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base w ...
, musician * Ambroise Paré, medical doctor considered one of the fathers of surgery and a pioneer in surgical techniques and battlefield medicine * François Pyrard, sailor * Henri Rousseau (1844–1910), known as le Douanier, painter *
Lucienne de Saint-Mart Lucienne de Saint-Mart (8 October 1866 in Laval - 28 March 1953 in Laguna Beach, California) was a French painter who for eight years was a court painter for Czar Nicholas II of Russia. Biography Lucienne de Saint-Mart was the daughter of Fren ...
(1866–1958), French painter *
Anne Terrier Laffaille Anne Terrier Laffaille (22 July 1904 – 22 December 1971) was a French composer and founding member of Groupe Melos. Terrier Laffaille was born in Laval. She studied music with Vincent d'Indy at the Schola Cantorum de Paris. In 1950, Terrier Laff ...
, composer * Augustine Tuillerie, alias G.Bruno, writer * Birds in Row, hardcore band


International relations

Laval is
twinned Twinning (making a twin of) may refer to: * In biology and agriculture, producing two offspring (i.e., twins) at a time, or having a tendency to do so; * Twin towns and sister cities, towns and cities involved in town twinning * Twinning inst ...
with: *
Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the capital city, state capital and List of municipalities in Massachusetts, most populous city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financ ...
, United Kingdom * Modesto, United States * Chalkidiki, Greece. * Gandia, Spain * Garango, Burkina Faso * Laval, Canada * Mettmann, Germany * Lovech, Bulgaria * Suceava, Romania


See also

* Mayenne *
Maine Maine () is a U.S. state, state in the New England and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Provinces and territories of Canad ...
* Pays de la Loire


References

*


Further reading

* Michel Dloussky, ''Invasions allemandes et pénurie de monnaie en Mayenne'', in ''La Mayenne : archéologie, histoire'', 1994, N° 17, p. 159–193. * Michel Dloussky, ''L'été 1944 en Mayenne'', in ''L'Oribus'', 1994, N° 36, p. 74, and N° 37, p. 38–60. * Denis Glemain, ''Le Cinéma en Mayenne sous l'Occupation (1940–1944), Multigraphié'', 1998, p. 166, ''Mémoire de Maîtrise,'' University of Nantes. * Jean Grangeot, ''Laval'', Rennes, Ouest-France, 1977. * Pierre Le Baud, ''Histoire de Bretagne avec les Chroniques des maisons de Laval et de Vitré,'' Paris, 1638. * Jules Marcheteau, ''La libération de Laval par les Américains'', in ''L'Oribus'', 1988, N° 26, p. 22–33. * Gaston Pavard, ''Chronique des années sombres (années 1939–1945)'', in ''L'Oribus'', 1996, N° 40 and 42, p. 49–71. * Francis Robin, ''La Mayenne sous l'Occupation : déportations, internements, fusillades'', Laval, Imprimerie Administrative, 1966, p. 32. * Malcolm Walsby, ''The Counts of Laval: Culture, Patronage and Religion in Fifteenth and Sixteenth-Century France'' Ashgate, Aldershot, 2007


External links


Official website



Laval Virtual
{{Authority control Communes of Mayenne Prefectures in France Maine (province)