Mayenne (commune) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mayenne
Subprefecture and commune
The Château de Mayenne, and the Mayenne river
Coat of arms
Mayenne Location in France Show map of France Mayenne Location in Pays de la Loire Show map of Pays de la Loire
Country	France
Region	Pays de la Loire
Department	Mayenne
Arrondissement	Mayenne
Canton	Mayenne
Area 1	19.88 km2 (7.68 sq mi)
Population  (2021)	12,900
• Density	648.9/km2 (1,681/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	53147 /53100
Elevation	82–159 m (269–522 ft) (avg. 124 m or 407 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Mayenne is a town in northwestern France. It is located in the Mayenne department. The town is also a subprefecture, which means it's an important administrative center. Mayenne sits right on the Mayenne river.

History of Mayenne

Early Beginnings and the Castle

Mayenne started as a town in the Middle Ages. It became important because of its castle. Around the years 1110–1161, a lord named Juhel II of Mayenne built a monastery near the castle. This led to a settlement growing around it.

Times of Conflict and Rebuilding

The town faced tough times during the French Wars of Religion. It was attacked twice, in 1574 and 1590. These attacks caused a lot of damage to the town.

After the wars, Mayenne was rebuilt and made beautiful again. A powerful leader named Cardinal Mazarin helped with this process. However, the town also suffered from a serious plague in 1707.

World War II Bombing

More recently, during World War II, Mayenne was bombed. On June 9, 1944, the RAF (British Royal Air Force) bombed the town. This caused a lot of damage and many people were hurt.

Population of Mayenne

The number of people living in Mayenne has changed over the years. Here's a look at the population trends:

Main Sights to See

The Château de Mayenne

The Mayenne Castle, or Château, is a very old building. It was built around the 10th century (900–920 AD). It's a special example of a palace from the Carolingian period. Some parts, like the reception room, a tower, and the cellar, are still in great condition.

Later, in the 13th century, the castle was made stronger. A dungeon and ramparts were added to turn it into a fortress. These parts still stand tall over the river and the town. Inside, you can see vaulted rooms and a chapel with decorations from the 13th century. There's also a 19th-century chapel with fancy baroque decorations. The castle was once used as a prison. Since 2008, it has been home to the "Musée du Château de Mayenne," which is the Mayenne Castle Museum.

Basilica of Notre-Dame

The Basilica of Notre-Dame was founded in 1100. From the original building, only the piers (strong supports) and the arcades (arches) of the nave (the main part of the church) are still standing.

Romanesque Church of St. Martin

The Romanesque church of St. Martin was built in an old style. It was made larger in the 19th century. Its new parts were built to look like medieval architecture.

Famous People from Mayenne

Many notable people have come from Mayenne, including:

• Guy Chantepleure, a well-known writer.
• Paul Delaunay, a physician and historian.
• Elias Durand, a pharmacist and botanist.
• Étiemble, another famous writer.
• Marc Joulaud, a politician.
• Édouard Lambert, a sports shooter.
• Jean-François Rivière, a footballer.
• Romain Salin, also a footballer.
• Michel Tronchay, a priest and historian.
• Élie Sauvage (1814–1871), a playwright.

Twin Towns – Sister Cities

Mayenne has special friendships with other towns around the world. These are called "twin towns" or "sister cities."

• Devizes, England, United Kingdom
• Jesi, Italy
• Waiblingen, Germany

See also

In Spanish: Mayenne (Mayenne) para niños