Laval

Laval is a city of art and history of nearly 50,000 inhabitants. It is crossed by the Mayenne and houses the Museum of Naive Art and Singular Arts.

Laval is the economic and historical centrepoint of Mayenne department. It also serves as its capital, built around the castle that sits proud in the centre of town.

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.

Laval is notably the birthplace of Henri Rousseau, a major Naïve 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.

Here, you'll find lots of Instagrammable sites, bars, restaurants and shops to stock up on supplies. There also looks to be a lively nightlife, not that I experienced it.