Mayenne, Pays de la Loire

You will find a great selection of houses and other types of properties for sale in the department of Mayenne which is a department in northwest France named after the Mayenne River. Mayenne is part of the current region of Pays de la Loire.

Across the north of the département, the Parc Naturel Régional de Normandie et Maine remains a haven of forests and hills, including the so-called Alpes Mancelles which in fact seldom rise above 400 metres.

The Mayenne, and other rivers, attract anglers and boaters. The capital Laval and its 11th century château was home to the barons, and later counts, of Laval until 1794. The turbulent history of the town is clear from the scale of the city walls (still standing), but there is a cultural side to Laval: its famous sons include painter Henri douanier Rousseau, and controversial playwright Alfred Jarry.

To the east lies Evron with its medieval basilica (parts of which date back to the 10th century) and nearby Gallo-Roman remains. The annual meat festival in the first week of September pays tribute to the main industry – abattoirs. Mayenne’s 11th century château bears witness to the fact that this little town was once as important as Laval, and there is an impressive Église de St Martin from the same period, as well as an ornate basilica dedicated to Notre Dame. Ernée to the east has an annual art exhibition during the second fortnight in June as well as a fair over the first weekend in September.