Mayenne (, ) is a commune in the Mayenne department, northwestern France. It is a subprefecture of the department. It is situated on the river Mayenne. History In medieval times, the town was the seat of the Lords of Mayenne. The town originated when Juhel II of Mayenne built a monastery near the gate of the pre-existing castle, which led to the formation of the settlement. Mayenne was besieged twice during the French Wars of Religion, in 1574 and 1590, and suffered substantial damage. It was rebuilt and re-embellished in the following century thanks to the help of Cardinal Mazarin. It however suffered from plague in 1707. On 9 June 1944, during World War II, it was bombed by the RAF, which caused heavy damage and numerous casualties. Population Main sights The Château, built in the 10th century (900-920) is an exceptional example of a palace dating from the Carolingian period. Reception room, tower and cellar are remarkably well preserved. The dungeon and ramparts, built in the 13th century to transform the castle into a fortress, still proudly dominate the river and the town of Mayenne. The vaulted rooms and the chapel still have thirteenth century decorations. The chapel dating from the 19th century with its baroque decoration bears witness to the long period of time he was a prison. Once used as a prison, since 2008 it is home to the "Musée du Château de Mayenne" (the Mayenne Castle Museum). The Basilica of Notre-Dame, founded in 1100. Of the original building, only the piers and the arcades of the nave remain. Romanesque church of St. Martin, enlarged in neo-medieval style during the nineteenth century. Notable people Guy Chantepleure, writer Paul Delaunay, physician and historian Elias Durand, pharmacist and botanist Étiemble, writer Marc Joulaud, politician Édouard Lambert, sports shooter Jean-François Rivière, footballer Romain Salin, footballer Michel Tronchay, priest and historian Élie Sauvage (1814–1871), playwright Twin towns – sister cities Mayenne is twinned with: Devizes, England, United Kingdom Jesi, Italy Waiblingen, Germany See also Communes of Mayenne Jublains archeological site References External links Official Web site Communes of Mayenne Subprefectures in France Maine (province) Diablintes