Laval (Mayenne) facts for kids

Laval
Laval
	Prefecture and commune
	The castle overlooking the town and the river Mayenne.
	; Coat of arms
	; Coat of arms
Country	France
Region	Pays de la Loire
Department	Mayenne
Arrondissement	Laval
Canton	3 cantons
Intercommunality	CA Laval
Area1	34.2 km2 (13.2 sq mi)
• Urban	115.7 km2 (44.7 sq mi)
• Metro	771.09 km2 (297.72 sq mi)
Population (2009)	51,182
• Rank	119th in France
• Density	1,496.5/km2 (3,876/sq mi)
• Urban (2009)	67,671
• Urban density	584.88/km2 (1,514.8/sq mi)
• Metro (2009)	119,475
• Metro density	154.9430/km2 (401.301/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+01:00)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+02:00)
INSEE/Postal code	53130 /53000
Elevation	42–122 m (138–400 ft)
	1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Laval is a commune and the prefecture of the French department of Mayenne. The people that live there are called Lavallois.

History

Laval is a medieval city and was first mentionned during the 11th century.

Laval is twinned with:

The Mayenne river in the town centre.
A street in the medieval centre.
The Mayenne river banks.
The castle of Laval and its 13th-century keep.
Guy II of Laval, second Lord of the town, after a seal from 1095.
Guy XVII, count of Laval between 1531 and 1547. Portrait by François Clouet.
The hôtel d'Argentré is one of the numerous hôtels particuliers built in Laval during the 18th century.
Laval as seen from the railway viaduct in the 19th century, with the place du 11-Novembre (then place de l'hôtel-de-ville), the Mayenne river, the bridges, the castle and the cathedral.
Aerial view of the Lycée Douanier Rousseau on the eastern bank of the Mayenne river.
The medieval town is still encircled by several portions of city walls.
View on the Mayenne river and on the faubourg of Avesnières, south of the centre.