Mayenne: Laval, Henri Rousseau, and Rural Tranquility
Mayenne is a discreet, predominantly rural department in the western Loire region. Laval, the prefecture, straddles the Mayenne river and has a medieval old town overlooked by a castle that now houses a museum dedicated to Henri Rousseau, the naive painter who was born here. The population is about 305,000.
The department's economy rests on agriculture (dairy, particularly), food processing, and a surprisingly strong industrial sector for its size. Chateau-Gontier is a market town with a significant cattle market. The Mayenne river itself, navigable for much of its length, has become popular for houseboat holidays. The Jublains archaeological site preserves Roman baths and a fortified temple from the Gallo-Roman period.
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Mayenne is a discreet, predominantly rural department in the western Loire region. Laval, the prefecture, straddles the Mayenne river and has a medieval old town overlooked by a castle that now houses a museum dedicated to Henri Rousseau, the naive painter who was born here. The population is about 305,000.
The department's economy rests on agriculture (dairy, particularly), food processing, and a surprisingly strong industrial sector for its size. Chateau-Gontier is a market town with a significant cattle market. The Mayenne river itself, navigable for much of its length, has become popular for houseboat holidays. The Jublains archaeological site preserves Roman baths and a fortified temple from the Gallo-Roman period.
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