The medieval core of Laval climbs the hill from the Mayenne up to the cathedral and the château. Narrow lanes — the Grande Rue, the rue des Orfèvres, the Place de Hardes — are lined with half-timbered houses, some dating to the 15th century. There are antiques shops, a couple of bookshops, and small bars tucked into the ground floors.
It is a compact area, easily walked in under an hour, and best in the morning or late afternoon when the light catches the leaning façades.