Culture of Laval. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Strange Floating Pyramids The main historical symbol of the city is the Chateau de Laval, the first written mention of it dates back to the early 11th century. It was built in a very beautiful place, on the riverbank. Such a favorable location gives the historical monument a spectacular appearance. Once it was the center of the city, the ruins of old buildings and part of the fortress walls have been preserved around the castle. Several old city gates survived here as well, the whole territory of the castle is presently available for tours.
Laval's traditional cuisine is very diverse, including a wide variety of different dishes. It's definitely worth noting all kinds of meat dishes. In local restaurants, they serve wonderful … Open
Over hundreds of years, the castle has been repeatedly rebuilt and reconstructed, now there is a historical museum within its walls. It keeps collections of archaeological artifacts that were found during the city's exploration. You can also see collections of old weapons, maps, documents, and works of art. Tours of the castle are quite long, a significant part of the exhibits collected here is devoted to the history of the city's formation.
The most beautiful religious monument of Laval is La Trinité Cathedral, which is a striking example of Romanesque style. The historic cathedral has preserved unique decor elements, which were created by local craftsmen in the Middle Ages. The exact date of the shrine's construction is unknown but as researchers managed to establish, its chapel was built back in the 8th century. Its walls are masterfully painted, there are also stone carving elements here. The cathedral stores valuable religious artifacts, here you can see ancient icons and other precious relics. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
Local people's character and behavior may seem quite unusual to many foreign tourists. They are very committed to their culture and native language, which is the reason why they are … Open
Besides the majestic cathedral, the city has many other remarkable religious sites. These include the graceful 13th-century Saint-Julien Chapel with its unparalleled interior. Nearby is the Basilica of Notre-Dame d'Avesnières, which is also considered a vivid example of Romanesque architecture.
Le Musée de lAmérique Française et lUniversité Laval dArchitecture An interesting feature of Laval's architectural look is beautiful bridges, some of which were built over a thousand years ago. The spectacular Pont Vieux bridge, which is now among the valuable historical objects, is laid across the Mayenne River. Alongside the river banks, there is a park area that is often chosen by tourists for walks. They all can take spectacular pictures of the bridge from many natural viewing points, as well as from buildings standing here on the banks.
Laval offers its guests a lot of interesting opportunities for organizing outdoor activities. The city has several wonderful parks, the largest and most beautiful one is called Jardin de la … Open
The old Eglise des Cordeliers draws the attention of all connoisseurs of ancient architecture. It looks quite modest outwardly, while a chic decoration in the style of past years is hidden inside. It was possible to preserve its artistically decorated vaulted ceiling and iconostasis, which was set up here immediately after the completion of construction. The church is quite small, so not all tourists are aware of its existence.
The Chapelle de Pritz is notable for the fact that it has never undergone any major reconstruction. Even now it resembles a typical medieval church with roughly finished stone walls. The main treasure of the cathedral is the religious relics it keeps inside. Here one can see beautiful old icons, as well as wonderful sculptures created by eminent craftsmen.
1. Locals are extremely reluctant to speak foreign languages. Going on a trip, be sure to learn a few simple phrases in French and take along a French phrase book. 2. If during a walk you … Open
An important historical attraction of the city is the old cemetery Cimetière Vaufleury. Many prominent political and public figures were buried on its territory. Here are the tombs of former rulers of the city, famous artists, and military leaders. The historic cemetery is also of great architectural value, now it is a popular sightseeing object.
In the vicinity of Laval, there are several important archaeological areas available for excursions. The most interesting one is the Thermes Gallo-Romains located just five kilometers from the city. In this area, researchers have discovered the ruins of Gallo-Roman buildings, once a large thermal complex. Over the years, researchers have managed to fully restore the ancient structures so now contemporaries can get an idea of how the complex looked more than 1,500 years ago. The historical complex has a small museum containing the most interesting archaeological finds.
Carrefour Laval is considered one of the most luxurious shopping centers in Laval striking with its exquisite design. It houses dozens of famous boutiques, original art installations adorn … Open
Laval is quite a small town so one can easily explore all its iconic sights in a few days. If the historical sites presented within the city seem not enough, be sure to pay attention to the historical areas outside its boundaries.
In the section below, you can get one of our excursion, activities or city discovery tours over Laval and surroundings. Our website offers 10-30% lower ticket prices, when compared to the offline purchase on the spot.

City tours, excursions and tickets in Laval and surroundings

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Reference information
Map of all palaces
Public palaces near Laval
♥   Palace 'Château de Vitré' , 33.9 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Palace 'Château d’Angers' , 68.1 km from the center. On the map   Photo
Map of all churches
Cathedrals and basilicas near Laval
♥   Basilique Notre-Dame des Miracles, Mayenne, 28.6 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Basilique Notre-Dame de l’Assomption, La Guerche-de-Bretagne, 37.2 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Abbaye Saint-Pierre, Solesmes, 42 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Basilique Notre-Dame du Chêne, Vion, 46.3 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Basilique Notre-Dame de l’Espérance, Pontmain, 46.8 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Cathédrale Saint-Maurice, Angers, 68.2 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Basilique Sainte-Madeleine, Angers, 69.7 km from the center. On the map   Photo

Excursions over cultural sights of neighbours of Laval

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