Laval

LAVAL, a town of north-western France, capital of the de partment of Mayenne, on the Mayenne river, 188 m. W.S.W. of Paris by rail. Pop. (1930 24,411. The old feudal city, with its ancient castle, is situated on the right bank while the new town is on the opposite bank. There is communication by steamer as far as Angers. The old castle with a donjon of the 12th century is now transformed into a museum. The "new castle," dating partly from the Renaissance, serves as court-house. The transept and nave of the Trinity church, which serves as a cathedral, are of the 12th century while the choir is of the 16th ; St. Venerand (15th century) has good stained glass; Notre-Dame des Cordeliers, which dates from the end of the 14th century or the beginning of the 15th, has some marble altars. Half-a-mile below the Pont Vieux is the 12th century church of Avenieres, with an ornamental spire of 1534. The finest remaining relic of the ancient fortifications is the Beucheresse gate near the cathedral. The nar row streets around the castle are bordered by many old houses of the i 5th and 16th centuries, chief among which is that named the "Maison du Grand Veneur." There are an art-museum, a museum of natural history and archaeology and a library.

Seigneurs and Counts of Laval.

The castle of Laval was founded at the beginning of the 11th century by a lord of the name of Guy, and remained in the possession of his male descend ants until the 13th century. In 1218 the lordship passed to the house of Montmorency by the marriage of Emma, daughter of Guy VI. of Laval, to Mathieu de Montmorency, the hero of the battle of Bouvines. Of this union was born Guy VII. seigneur of Laval, the ancestor of the second house of Laval. Anne of Laval (d. 1466), the heiress of the second family, married John de Montfort, who took the name of Guy (XIII.) of Laval. At Charles VII.'s coronation (1429) Guy XIV., who was after wards son-in-law of John V., duke of Brittany, and father-in-law of king Rene of Anjou, was created count of Laval, and the countship remained in the possession of Guy's male descendants until 1547. After the Montforts, the countship of Laval passed by inheritance to the families of Rieux and Sainte Maure, to the Colignys, and finally to the La Tremoilles, who held it until the Revolution.