Mayenne, Mayenne

History

Main sights

• The Château, built in the 10th century is an exceptional example of a palace dating from the Carolingian period. Reception room, tower and cellar are remarkably well preserved. The dungeon and ramparts, built in the 13th century to transform the castle into a fortress, still proudly dominate the river and the town of Mayenne. The vaulted rooms and the chapel still have thirteenth century decorations. The chapel dating from the 19th century with its baroque decoration bears witness to the long period of time he was a prison. Once used as a prison, since 2008 it is home to the .
• The Basilica of Notre-Dame, founded in 1100. Of the original building, only the piers and the arcades of the nave remain.
• Romanesque church of St. Martin, enlarged in neo-medieval style during the nineteenth century.

  Notable people

• Guy Chantepleure, writer
• Paul Delaunay, physician and historian
• Elias Durand, pharmacist and botanist
• Étiemble, writer
• Marc Joulaud, politician
• Édouard Lambert, sports shooter
• Jean-François Rivière, footballer
• Romain Salin, footballer
• Michel Tronchay, priest and historian
• Élie Sauvage, playwright

  Twin towns

• Waiblingen, Germany, since the 1970s
• Devizes, UK, since the 1970s
• Jesi, Italy, since 2001