Le Quarante | Office de Tourisme Laval Agglomération

What to expect

You don’t have to have a cultural activity in the strict sense of the word to come and have a drink, read a magazine,
enjoy the view over the city, join a co-working space (free access),
or to meet up with other associations.
This new cultural hub is intended to be a new meeting place for the whole population.

Inspiring spaces to create and innovate

On the first floor, friendly spaces await you: a café, library and lounges for culture, dreams and inspiration. Between quiet moments and lively activities, this dynamic space welcomes you, with exhibitions and a creative atmosphere.
On the top floor, a panoramic room overlooking Laval offers the ideal setting for exchanging ideas, relaxing or creating. Modular rooms are also available for artists, groups or local associations.

Everything for the arts

On three floors, you’ll discover spaces dedicated to orchestras, creation studios, percussion rooms, as well as some fifty classrooms and rehearsal rooms.
In the basement, immerse yourself in a unique world of sound: recording studios accessible 24/7, where the tranquility of the neighborhood is preserved thanks to walls an impressive 1.5 m thick.
The perfect place to unleash your boundless creativity!

A unique performance space

Located on the north side of the rue de Beauregard, the auditorium is an ideal space for musicians, dancers and actors, both professional and amateur. With a capacity of 300 seated and 600 standing, it can accommodate all art forms: music, dance, circus…
Its modular stage and exceptional acoustics, combined with a U-shaped seating arrangement, guarantee total immersion in each performance, making this auditorium a unique venue in the region.

Not forgetting...

The Conservatory
The Library
La Micro-Folie
The Fab Lab
Le Café
Le Jardin

The Conservatory with regional influence

The beating heart of the Agglomération’s cultural life, the Conservatoire Laval Agglomération offers a wide range of disciplines. It places particular emphasis on ensemble activities and amateur practice, while offering excellent teaching in music, dance, drama and visual arts. Accessible to all, it is also a true resource center for local schools and outside audiences, in terms of artistic and cultural education.

All programming

Dive into a world of discovery at the Quarante library, a branch of the LA Bib network! With 2,500 books to borrow – novels, magazines, comics, manga, children’s albums – as well as 12,000 musical scores in the partothèque, there’s something for everyone. Registration is free and can be done at any of Laval Agglomération’s 29 libraries. Come and explore, borrow and be surprised!

All news from LA Bib

Located at the entrance to the building, Micro-Folie, a virtual museum developed by La Villette for the French Ministry of Culture, puts the site at the cutting edge of digital innovation in the service of culture. It allows visitors to discover the collections of the 12 partner national museums and explore virtual reality. A mobile version of the Micro-Folie will also tour the region, offering schoolchildren and the general public festive events and activities, accompanied by a mediator, to enrich local life.

The Fab Lab, or “fabrication laboratory”, is a space open to all, whatever your level or skills. Here, creation and fabrication become accessible thanks to a variety of tools, from digital machines to drills or sewing machines. At Le Quarante, this friendly, participatory Fab Lab will be built with you, thanks to collaborative workshops where everyone can invent, make and share their ideas freely.

If you’d like to find out more, or take part in the launch of the Fab Lab, sign up: lequarante@agglo-laval.fr

Open Tuesday to Friday, 2pm to 6pm, Café du Quarante is much more than just a place to relax. With its varied program, it hosts workshops, conferences and small artistic events. It’s also a space for exchange, where visitors can get involved in the co-construction of the collaborative program. A real meeting point for creating, sharing and recharging your batteries!

In front of the building, the new garden is an invitation to relax for families, residents and visitors alike. Designed as an extension of the building, it features children’s play areas, an outdoor theater and an underground rainwater management basin. This convivial space will also be able to host a variety of cultural activities, making the garden a living space accessible to all.

Le Quarante, a rare heritage

Perched high above downtown Laval on rue du Britais, the former Crédit Foncier de France building is a real symbol of local history.
The adventure began in 2017, supported by the elected representatives of Laval Agglomération, to transform this site into a lively hybrid space. The result? A surface area that now spans 8,600 m², with modernized architecture and redesigned uses to meet everyone’s desires. A place where creativity, culture and conviviality meet!

The roots of Quarante

Between past and present

Established in Laval in the 1940s, the former Crédit Foncier de France, with its bunker, protected residents during the Second World War. An actual institution, it left its mark on the memory of the people of Laval, whether through the loans it contracted or the jobs it offered.

This Art Deco building, acquired by the city after its closure, houses an impressive vault, with its spectacular volumes and refined ornamentation. Its architect drew his inspiration from ocean liners, creating a majestic nave with glass roofs and railings, and 11-metre high ceilings.

Today, this unique heritage blends memories of the past with future cultural projects, combining 20th-century history with a contemporary touch.

#LE40 - Claire Gilbert, 40 ans de carrière au Crédit Foncier

An ecological approach at the heart of the project

From the outset of the rehabilitation and extension project, an eco-responsible approach was adopted, focusing on recycling, energy efficiency and ecological sobriety. The first objective was to retain as much of the existing building as possible, with facades, roofs, staircases and decorative elements reused in a sustainable process. Transforming a closed building into a space open to all was a major architectural challenge.

Technical improvements were implemented:

Optimization of the building’s thermal envelope
Installation of condensing boilers
LED lighting
An intelligent lighting management system
The creation of a garden to optimize rainwater management

In terms of acoustic performance, the entire building benefits from exemplary insulation, with sound-isolated rehearsal studios and a recording network enabling each room to be used for sessions. The flexible, modular auditorium is designed to accommodate a wide range of events, from concerts to dance, theater and cinema performances, offering great versatility.

Le Quarante unveiled

© Ville de Laval - Le Quarante / Une semaine inaugurale festive

Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 9pm
Saturday, 9am to 12:30pm and 2pm to 5pm
Le café du Quarante: Tuesday to Friday, 2pm to 6pm.

Meet at 40 rue du Britais

By bus

Line A and K
Stop at rue du Britais, down the street
5-minute walk from Place du Onze-Novembre, arrival station for all Tul buses
Line D (all week)
Cerdan stop
Line F
Macé stop

Timetables and fares at: www.tul-laval.com
Free public transport on weekends and public holidays

By car

Parking lot – 16, rue Jean Macé
120 parking spaces in blue zone – 4h

For all inquiries

02 53 74 14 40
lequarante@agglo-laval.fr

More information on the Laval Agglomération website

The secrets of Le Quarante
Guided tour

Did you know that Le Quarante was once a bank? Follow in the footsteps of Laval Patrimoine mediators to discover the building’s hidden and most unusual places.

Every first Saturday of the month, except during school vacations.
At 2:30 pm. Duration: 1 hr.
General public – No reservation required
Free

Le Quarante in the palm of your hand
Geolocated audio tour

If you’d like to explore Le Quarante on your own, simply scan the QR code at the entrance and let yourself be guided through the building via the Wivisites app, available free of charge from autumn-winter 2024-2025.

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