Craon, commune in Mayenne, France
Craon is a commune in Mayenne featuring an old town center with timber-framed buildings, narrow streets, and historic structures along the Oudon River. The town includes a market hall built in 1850 and the region's largest historic washhouse, along with traditional architecture spanning several centuries.
Craon has roots stretching back more than two thousand years and once served as a fortified settlement with protective walls against invaders. The town evolved through different historical periods, with surviving buildings documenting its development across five centuries.
Craon's timber-framed houses line the streets and tell the story of how people built and lived here over centuries. These structures are central to how locals experience their town today, serving as gathering points and markers of neighborhood identity.
Craon sits about 29 kilometers from Laval and is easily accessible by main roads or public transport. Visitors can find lodging, restaurants serving local food, parks and lakes for outdoor activities, and guided tours through the old town offered on Wednesday mornings during summer.
Craon has a strong tradition of horse racing that attracts visitors and shapes local identity in unexpected ways. This passion for equestrian sport reveals a side of rural French life that goes beyond the typical village charm.
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