Villefranche-de-Conflent
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Villefranche-de-Conflent |
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 Villefranche-de-Conflent
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| Administration | |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Region | Languedoc-Roussillon |
| Department | Pyrénées-Orientales |
| Arrondissement | Prades |
| Canton | Prades |
| Mayor | François Galte (2001–2008) |
| Statistics | |
| Elevation | 390–1,395 m (1,280–4,577 ft) (avg. 432 m/1,417 ft) |
| Land area1 | 4.46 km2 (1.72 sq mi) |
| Population2 | 244 (2006) |
| - Density | 55 /km2 (140 /sq mi) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 66223/ 66500 |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
| 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. | |
Coordinates: 42°35′17″N 2°22′07″E / 42.5881°N 2.3686°E
Villefranche-de-Conflent (Catalan: Vilafranca de Conflent) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in south of France.
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[edit] History of Villefranche-de-Conflent
[edit] The Capital of Conflent
The original town dates from 1098 and is fortified because of its strategic position in lands that changed hands between French and Spanish occupation.
- 1374, Villefranche resists to the siege of Jaume III the son of last king of Majorca.
- In July 1654, the French capture the city after eight days, and the troops of Louis XIV take Puigcerda from the Spaniards.
The town is tightly packed within the original castle walls and is bounded on one side by the road running up into the Cerdagne and on the other by the Conflent of the rivers Tet and Cady.
[edit] UNESCO World Heritage
The Fortifications of Vauban consists of 12 groups of fortified buildings and sites along the western, northern and eastern borders of France. They were designed by Vauban (1633–1707), and were added in 2008 to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
[edit] The Train jaune
Villefranche-de-Conflent is the start and finish train station for the scenic 'Train Jaune' Yellow train.
[edit] See also
- Communes of the Pyrénées-Orientales department
- Fortifications of Vauban
- Yellow train
- Les Plus Beaux Villages de France
[edit] References
- Ayats, Alain , "Les fortifications de Vauban", Trabucaire, 2005, ISBN 2849740268
[edit] External links
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