Château de Laval

The origins of the lordship of Laval date back to the early 11th century. The castle was built by Gui I. de Dénéré, a vassal of the Count of Maine, Herbert I. Eveille Chien. In the 13th century, the property passed to the Montmorency family through the marriage of the last direct descendant, Emma de Laval, to Mathieu Montmorency. When the male line of the Laval-Montmorency ended in 1412 with Gui XII., the estate fell to his son-in-law Jean Montfort-Gaël, who adopted the name Gui XIII. His son Gui XIV., a companion of Joan of Arc, succeeded him in 1415. King Charles VII elevated the lordship to a county in 1429. Until 1794, the castle served as the residence of the Counts of Laval. During the French Revolution, the Petit-Château was initially used as a military hospital and then by the Tribunal from 1795. In 1821, Louis-Stanislas de La Trémoïlle sold the castle, along with the New Castle, to the city, which used it as a prison until 1908.

The Château de Laval is situated in the city of Laval in the Mayenne department, in the Pays de la Loire region of France. It is located at an altitude of approximately 60 meters above sea level.

Today, the Château de Laval is used by local authorities and houses a museum. Visitors can explore the historic premises, which offer insights into the region's past.

• Château de la Courbe de Brée (castle), approx. 22.1 km away
• Château de Montecler (castle), approx. 26.2 km away
• Château du Rocher (castle), approx. 27.9 km away
• Château de Aron (castle), approx. 29.7 km away