Porte Beucheresse, porte de ville à Laval (Mayenne)
The Porte Beucheresse is a city gate in Laval consisting of two rounded towers connected by a wall, built from grey stone with a pointed archway in the middle. The structure features loopholes and windows added during later modifications, showing how it was adapted over centuries while keeping its medieval character.
The Porte Beucheresse was built in the late 12th or early 13th century as part of Laval's fortifications to protect the city. During the 14th century, defensive features like platforms were added, and later in the 18th century a bastion was constructed for additional protection.
The name 'Porte Beucheresse' comes from woodcutters who used this route to bring wood from the forest into the city in earlier times. The gate reflects how the site was central to local trades and daily life, serving as a crossing point for workers and their goods.
The gate is located at Hardy-de-Lévaré square and is easily accessible on foot in a quiet part of the old city center. Visitors should be aware that ongoing restoration work and archaeological excavations may affect access at times.
The famous painter Henri Rousseau was born in 1844 in one of the towers of this gate, where his father had a metal workshop. This connection to a pioneer of modern art gives the site a special place in cultural history beyond its role as a medieval structure.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
