Villefranche-sur-Mer

Geography

Villefranche-sur-Mer is located on the Riviera within an idyllic framework, between Nice and Monaco, at the edge of the Mediterranean. Separated from Nice on which it is bordering by the Mont Boron, the Alban Mount and the Mont Vinegar manufacturer and distant of approximately 10 km of Monaco, it is spread out in step over the sides of the roads of Villefranche, one of the natural ports deepest of the the Western Mediterranean.

The roads offer a sure damping to the shelter of the east winds and accommodate many cruising ships. With an average depth of 17 m, it reaches 95 m at its entry and is prolonged with broad with approximately a thousand by the Canyon of Villefranche, a Abysse of more than 500 m to broad of the Baie of the Angels.

The limits of the commune extend to the neighbouring hills passing from the sea level to more than 500 m to the Mount Leuze, its culminating point, the terrestrial relief thus reflecting the underwater funds. Villefranche-on-sea is crossed by the three Cornices, three main roads carrying out from Nice to Monaco and Menton towards the Italian border , offering incomparable sights on the littoral.

History

The roads are attended as of the Antiquité by the Greek and Roman sailors. Those make use of it like damping and give him the name of Olivula Portus . The site is however victim of repeated cruel attacks. The inhabitants forsake the seaside and take refuge on the heights; they found there another village, Montolivo .

In 1295, Charles II of Anjou, Count de Provence, includes/understands the strategic importance of this site, located at the borders of its territory. In order to encourage the inhabitants to return to populate the seaside, it grants an exemption from taxes to them. The village is thus baptized Villa Franca .

At the time of the dédition of Nice, in 1388, Villefranche returns to the Duché of Savoy. The city becomes thus the only maritime door of the alpine duchy until the construction of the port of Nice at the 18th century and car its incomes of all the trading vessels accosting with the port (right of Villefranche).

Following the occupation, in 1543, roads by the free-Turkish fleet ordered by Khayr AD-DIN Barberousse, the Duc of Savoy Emmanuel-Philibert orders the fortification of the roads the fort of the Mount Alban and the Saint-Elme citadel is thus built. The latter will be completed in 1557. A first fleet of war is built in the wet dock of the port.

The French occupy the County of Nice several times between 1710 and 1722 and again in 1744, during the War of succession of Austria, when the Prince de Conti takes by storm the Alban Mount with its Franco-Spanish troops, driving out Piedmontese Charles-Emmanuel III of Sardinia. During the XVIIIème century, the city loses its maritime and harbor importance with the construction of the port Lympia of Nice.

In 1793, the revolutionary troops again invade the County of Nice and Villefranche passes under French administration until 1814 when Nice turns over under Sardinian control. In 1860, Nice is definitively attached to the France following the Risorgimento following a plebiscite orchestrated by the emperor Napoleon III in accordance with the secret agreements make with Cavour, sardo-Piedmontese Prime Minister, at the time of the interview of Plombières in 1858.

Vacation resort snuffed as of the end of the 19th century by the Russian and English nobility, the roads of Villefranche will shelter the 6th fleet of American war at the conclusion of the Second world war within the framework of NATO between 1945 and 1966.

Villefranche-sur-Mer is today the first port of cruising of France.

Administration

Demography

Economy

Fishing
Tourism
Pleasure sailing

Places and monuments

the church Saint-Michel , in the middle of the old city, was set up in the first quarter of the 14th century then was transformed at the end of the 18th century. This church took the features of style Baroque Italy N. It lodges several parts of art, of which a fabric representing Saint Michel, a Christ carved 18th century (known as Christ of the galérien ) and a polychrome statue out of wooden of Saint-Roch. This building is classified historic building since 1990.

the vault Saint-Pierre , on the fishing port, was decorated by Jean Cocteau in 1957.

the port of the Wet dock shelters many activities (marina, Shipyard, etc). It is managed by the Chamber of commerce and of industry Nice Riviera. The oceanologic observatory of Villefranche-sur-Mer is located there. Depending on the University Pierre and Marie Curie (University of Paris VI) and also placed under the supervision of CNRS, it is the seat of research activities with 3 laboratories (Océanologie, marine géosciences and cellular Biologie). Approximately 150 people work there.

Personalities related to the commune

In the past, Villefranche lodged many personalities of the Show business, among which Katherine Mansfield, Jean Cocteau and Aldous Huxley.

Tina Turner and Bono of the group of Rock U2 has a residence today there.

Twinnings

Others

the roads of Villefranche-sur-Mer is the site of competitions of apnea; the championships of the world were held there in 2005.

Films made to Villefranche-sur-Mer

1983 : James Bond - Never never with Sean Connery and Kim Basinger
1998: Ronin of John Frankenheimer with Robert De Niro and Jean Reno
2006: Brice de Nice

Gallery photographs

Random links: