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Origin and history

Place Saint-Tugal, formerly called "Place des Arts", is located in downtown Laval, in the heart of medieval Old Laval. It owes its name to Tugdual de Tréguier, a Breton saint of the fifth century whose relics would have been preserved in the city. Originally, this square served as a parvis to the Collège Saint-Tugal, a church probably founded in the 12th century under the name "Our Lady of Bourg-Chevrel". In 1208 Guy VI de Laval transferred the chapter of the castle chapel there, and the relics of Saint-Tugdual were brought there on an indefinite date.

The collegiate church, rebuilt in the 15th century without ever being completed, was almost entirely destroyed around 1797 during the Revolution, when the clergy's property was seized. The square, initially limited to its western half, was enlarged in 1881 during the extension of the Sainte-Marie School (later the house of associations), resulting in the disappearance of the Rue du Pilier-Vert and several historic buildings.

Today, the Place Saint-Tugal preserves the remains of the collegiate church, wooden houses dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries, as well as a 17th century fountain. It is also bordered by the modern courthouse, built in the 2000s after the demolition of the old school. Its history reflects the urban and religious transformations of Laval, from the Middle Ages to the contemporary era.

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