Villefranche-sur-Saône

French commune
nomcommune=Villefranche-sur-Saône| région=Rhône-Alpes
département=Rhône ("sous-préfecture")| arrondissement=Villefranche-sur-Saône
canton=Villefranche-sur-Saône
insee= 69264
cp= 69400
maire=Jean-Jacques Pignard
mandat=
intercomm=Communauté de communes
de l'agglomération de
Villefranche-sur-Saône
longitude= 4.716667
latitude= 45.983333
alt moy=
alt mini=
alt maxi=
hectares= 948
km²= 9.48
sans= 30,647
date-sans=1999
dens= 3,233
date-dens=1999

Villefranche-sur-Saône ("Velafranche" in the Arpitan language) is a town and commune in the Rhône "département" of the Rhône-Alpes "région" of east-central France, one mile (1.6 km) west of the Saône River. The inhabitants of the town are called "Caladoise(s)" (females) and "Caladois" (males).

The popular French singers Coralie Clément and Benjamin Biolay, as well as football player hopeful Grégory Bettiol were born in Villefranche-sur-Saône.

History

Villefranche-sur-Saône was founded in 1212 by Guichard IV, count of Beaujeu ("Bôjor" / "Biôjœr"), and became in the 14th century the capital of the Beaujolais ("Biôjolês") province. It endured three sieges in the 15th and 16th centuries. The town walls were taken down early in the 19th century.

Economy

Industries include wine-trading, metallurgy, textiles, and chemicals.

Transport

The Autoroute du Sud is adjacent to the east of the town, running alongside the Saône River.

References

*1911

External links

* [http://www.villefranche.net/ Official website] (in French)