Villefranche-sur-Saône
Villefranche-sur-Saône (Velafranche) is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France. It lies 1 mile (1.6 km) west of the river Saône, and is around 25 km north of Lyon. The inhabitants of the town are called Caladois.
Villefranche-sur-Saône
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Documentary summary
Villefranche-sur-Saône (Velafranche) is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France. It lies 1 mile (1.6 km) west of the river Saône, and is around 25 km north of Lyon. The inhabitants of the town are called Caladois.
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Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Villefranche-sur-Saône • Native Name — Velafranche • Commune Status — Subprefecture and commune • Arrondissement — Villefranche-sur-Saône • Canton — Villefranche-sur-Saône • Insee — 69264 • Postal Code — 69400 • Mayor — Thomas Ravier • Term — 2020–2026 • Intercommunality — CA Villefranche Beaujolais Saône • Area Km2 — 9.48 • Demonym — Caladois
History
History
• Illustration — The Hôtel de Ville Villefranche-sur-Saône was founded in 1212 by Guichard IV, Count of Beaujeu, count of Beaujeu, and became in the 14th century the capital of the Beaujolais province. It endured three sieges in the 15th and 16th centuries. The town walls were taken down early in the 19th century. The Hôtel de Ville was completed in 1928.
Population
Population
The population data in the table and graph below refer to the commune of Villefranche-sur-Saône proper, in its geography at the given years. The commune of Villefranche-sur-Saône absorbed the former communes of Béligny and Ouilly (partly) in 1853.
Economy
Economy
Industries include wine-trading, metallurgy, textiles, and chemicals.
Transport
Transport
The Autoroute du Sud (the principal road from Paris to the south of France) is adjacent to the east of the town, running alongside the Saône. • Illustration — Portal of Notre-Dame des Marais
Buildings
Buildings
The church of Notre-Dame des Marais, begun at the end of the 14th and finished in the 16th century, has a tower and spire (rebuilt in 1862), standing to the right of the 15th century façade, in which are carved wooden doors.
Sport
Sport
FC Villefranche Beaujolais is based in the town.
Notable people
Notable people
• Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881–1955), Jesuit priest and scientist, attended school here in 1892–1897 • Maurice Baquet (1911–2005), actor and cellist • François Picard (1921–1996), racing driver • Christian Lavieille (born 1965), racing driver • Benjamin Biolay (born 1973), singer, songwriter and musician • Coralie Clément (born 1978), singer • Grégory Bettiol (born 1986), footballer
Twin towns – sister cities
Twin towns – sister cities
Villefranche-sur-Saône is twinned with: • Bertinoro, Italy • Bühl, Germany • Călărași District, Moldova • Kandi, Benin • Schkeuditz, Germany
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 27 September 2026.
Elsewhere in General
22,759 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
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