La, a town of France, department of Sarthe, and capital of a cognominal arrondissement, stands in a pleasant valley on the right bank of the Loir, 24 miles S.S.W. of Mans. The streets are wide and clean, and ornamented with fountains. It is chiefly noted for its royal military college, formerly a celebrated Jesuit's college, founded by Henri IV, in 1603, and which numbered among its students Descartes, Mersenne, and Prince Eugene. Among other public buildings are the Church of St Thomas, with a spire (fleche), from which the town takes its name, the town-hall, court-house, and hospital. The vicinity is fertile and well cultivated. Pop. (1851) 6543.