The Château de Laval sits on a rocky outcrop above the Mayenne, a layered fortress that has been added to over nearly a thousand years. The cylindrical Romanesque keep is the oldest part; the elegant Renaissance wing facing the river was built in the early 16th century. Together they make a striking ensemble, and the climb up the donjon gives the best view in town — out over the slate roofs of the old quarter and along the river valley.
Inside the keep, the Musée du Vieux-Château is devoted to naïve art, with the most important collection of Henri Rousseau's work outside Paris. There are also temporary exhibitions in the Renaissance wing. The château is closed on Mondays.