Villefranche-de-Rouergue

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Script error: No such module "Settlement short description".Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".Expression error: Unexpected < operator.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character "[". Template:Expand French

Villefranche-de-Rouergue (Script error: No such module "IPA".; Languedocien: Vilafranca de Roergue Script error: No such module "IPA".) is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France. Villefranche-de-Rouergue station has rail connections to Toulouse, Figeac and Aurillac.

History

<templatestyles src="Stack/styles.css"/>

File:Villefranche-de-Rouergue marché.jpg
Marketplace on Place Notre-Dame

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

At the end of the Albigensian Crusade from the northern "barons" against the southern Occitania on a religious pretext (fighting the Cathar heresy), the count of Toulouse was defeated and concluded the Treaty of Paris in 1229.[2] With this, the Count gave the Rouergue county to his daughter. She married Alphonse de Poitiers, brother of Saint Louis, King of France. Alphonse founded Villefranche on the place of an old village called La Peyrade in 1252.

In 1348 it was so flourishing that sumptuary laws were passed. Soon afterwards the town fell into the hands of Edward the Black Prince, but was the first place in Guyenne to rise against the English. New privileges were granted to the town by Charles V, but these were taken away by Louis XI.[2]

In 1588 the inhabitants repulsed the forces of the Hanseatic League, and afterwards murdered a governor sent by Henry IV. The town was ravaged by plague in 1463, 1558 and 1628, and in 1643 a revolt was cruelly repressed.[2] During World War II, while occupied by Nazi Germany, Villefranche received a large 13th Waffen SS Handschar (1st Croatian) division. Led by Ferid Džanić, Eduard Matutinović, Božo Jelinek and Nikola Vukelić, one battalion staged a rebellion against the Nazis on 17 September 1943, (Villefranche-de-Rouergue uprising) but were soon suppressed and mostly executed on site. The few that escaped inspired the French Resistance in Aveyron that had not been formed until then. After the war, an avenue in Villefranche was named Avenue des Croates (Avenue of the Croats) in honour of the uprising.

Buildings

One of the principal thoroughfares passes beneath the porch of Notre-Dame, the principal church of Villefranche. Notre-Dame was built from 1260 to 1581, the massive tower which surmounts its porch being of late Gothic architecture. The woodwork in the choir dates from the 15th century.[2]

A Carthusian monastery overlooking the town from the left bank of the Aveyron derives much interest from the completeness and fine preservation of its buildings, which date from the 15th century. They include a chapel, a vestibule, a chapter house, a refectory, an exhibition room and two cloisters, the smaller of which is a masterpiece of the late Gothic style.[2]

Twin towns – sister cities

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Villefranche-de-Rouergue is twinned with:[3]

Population

<templatestyles src="Module:Historical populations/styles.css"/>Script error: No such module "Historical populations".

Climate

Script error: No such module "weather box".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

See also

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. a b c d e Wikisource One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainScript error: No such module "template wrapper".
  3. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

External links

Template:Sister project

Script error: No such module "Navbox".

Template:Authority control