Villefranche-de-Rouergue
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Villefranche-de-Rouergue - by Brian Kennan on Google





Description
Villefranche-de-Rouergue is a bastide developed in the 13th century around the Collegiate Church of Notre Dame and the public square in front of it that is lined with arcades and medieval townhouses. Other attractions in town include the 14th-century Pont des Consuls where a sculpture of the archangel Saint-Michel by Casimir Ferrer now stands, the Renaissance Château de Graves, and the Baroque Chapelle des Pénitents Noirs with its wooden painted ribbed vaulted ceiling. At the edge of the town is the 15th-century Chartreuse Saint-Sauveur that unusually has two cloisters and some attractive stained-glass windows.
Access & Transport
The town is located in the eastern part of the Aveyron department, 55km west of Rodez, 35km south of Figeac and 65km north of Albi. Villefranche-de-Rouergue is on the regional train line between Brive and Toulouse (via Figeac/Capdenac).
Instructions & Recommendations
If you are interested in the Chapelle des Pénitents Noirs and the Chartreuse Saint-Sauveur, make sure to check the opening hours online beforehand. They can be found on the website of the Bastides & Gorges of Aveyron tourism office. The weekly farmers' market is held on Thursday mornings on place Notre-Dame.
Environmental & Social
The main activities in the town have a low carbon footprint. Tourism is a welcome injection of activity and revenues in the local economy
Conclusion
Villefranche-de-Rouergue is a nice small town to include on a road trip taking parts of the Lot and Aveyron departments but probably not worth a long detour despite a handful of interesting attractions
Key positive
Attractive medieval centre of town
A couple of visit-worthy religious buildings
Key negative
Not many other attractions in the vicinity
Suitability
No restrictions
About this Rating
TYPE
Desktop
RESEARCHED IN
February 2024
PROVIDER
Koreval
av. transport time:0h 45m
est. visit time:2h 30m
Sunrise / early morningOk
MorningOk
Lunch timeOk
AfternoonOk
Sunset / eveningOk
Night – bef. midnightNo
Night – aft. midnightNo