Eurostar to Laval

Laval is a stunning little commune in the Loire Valley, which is in the north-west of central France. It lies on the River Mayenne, on the borders of Brittany, Normandy, and Anjou. It's perfect for a French getaway, as it's on of the Eurostar's connection services, making it easy to take the train to Laval from London, Ebbsfleet or Ashford within around 7 hours.

About Laval

You'll definitely want to take a trip to see the Perrine Garden, which dates back to the eighteenth century. Built on the Perrine estate, the land used to be privately owned. However, the owner was a foolish man who gambled with the land. He lost the prize, and the land was handed over to the town. It is a gorgeous example of landscape design from both the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

If architecture is more up your street, Laval has plenty. Take a trip to the Notre-Dame-d'Avesnières basilica. It is considered by locals and tourists alike to be one of the most beautiful buildings in town. It dates back to the middle ages, and is a fine example of gothic architecture.

Another great example of French architecture is the Saint-Vénérand church. This dates back to the middle of the 1400s and is classed by many to be the finest example to Renaissance architecture in the whole region. The building's exterior is a gorgeous sight, as it is a pastiche of the Saint-André de Mantoue Basilica, and the stained glass windows along the sides are an excellent example of some of the best work from this time.

If you're looking for a bit of culture, spend an afternoon looking around the Museum of Science, the CCSTI, in Laval. It's a modern addition to the town, as it was built in 1996. But it draws in plenty of visitors who enjoy the interactive displays, workshops, and exhibition on all things related to technology and science. It's a great place for a bit of family fun.

However, if it's art that you're looking for, look no further than the Museum of Naive Art inside the Vieux Château, which was built between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries. The building itself is worth a look, as it contains a crypt, dungeons, and original fortified walls, some of which are the oldest in France. The exhibition itself is specialist, but definitely worth a visit, and you'll see works from the likes of Douanier Rousseau, Lefranc Bauchant, Vivin and many more.

Laval by Eurostar Trains

You can get to Laval on one of the Eurostar's connection services. This means you'll have to change trains at some point. Eurostar trains depart from St Pancras International. Your simplest option of connection services after getting on the train at London is to change at Paris Gare du Nord, which will only take two hours and fifteen minutes. From here, you'll need to get to Gare de Montparnasse. (You can either grab a taxi or take the Metro towards Porte d'Orléans.) Then you can catch a TGV service that will take you to Laval. You can expect the total journey time to be about seven hours.

Visit the official Eurostar web site to book your train tickets to Laval.