Laval

Laval, capital of the French department of Mayenne, the old town being situate upon the right bank of the river Mayenne and the new town on the leffbank. The river is crossed by a 16th-century bridge, a good stone bridge, and a railway viaduct, and has steam communication with Angers. The town, which is 46 miles E. of Rennes, and 180 miles W. of Paris, received an influx of Flemish weavers in the 14th century, and is still a great centre of linen and ticking manufacture. There are also foundries, tanneries, paper- and dye-works, and flour-mills; and marble for lime-making is quarried in the neighbourhood. Besides a large cloth hall, other interesting buildings are a church of the 12th century, an old castle (now a prison) a museum and library, and some remains of ancient fortification.