Villefranche-de-Rouergue

**Villefranche-de-Rouergue** () is a commune in southern France in the Aveyron department, in the region of Occitanie. It is the _sous-prefecture_ (capital) of the _arrondissement_ of the same name in the Aveyron department.

## History

In 1252, Alphonse de Poitiers, Count of Toulouse, sent Jean d'Arcis, Seneschal of Rouergue, to build a city along the Aveyron as a new capital for Rouergue (an old French province): Villefranche-de-Rouergue. From 1369 to the French Revolution, Villefranche-de-Rouergue was the capital of Rouergue.

## Geography

Villefranche-de-Rouergue is in the valley of the Aveyron river along the line that separates the _Causses_ (limestone plateaus) from the _Ségala_ geographical region.

There are mines of copper, lead, tin, iron and silver.

The Alzou river joins in the city, as a right tributary, the Aveyron river.

Villefranche-de-Rouergue has an area of , and its average altitude in the city is ; at the city hall, the altitude is .

Villefranche-de-Rouergue is surrounded by the _communes_ Saint-Rémy, Maleville, La Bastide-l'Évêque, Morlhon-le-Haut, Sanvensa, La Rouquette, Savignac and Toulonjac.

### Climate

The climate of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, in the Köppen climate classification, is **Cfb** - Oceanic climate with template summers.

## Population

The inhabitants of Villefranche-de-Rouergue are known, in French, as _Villefranchois_ (women: _Villefranchoises_).

With a population of 11,822, Villefranche-de-Rouergue has a population density of  inhabitants/km<sup>2</sup>.

**Evolution of the population in Villefranche-de-Rouergue**

Villefranche-de-Rouergue forms with Toulonjac the urban area of Villefranche-de-Rouergue with a population of 12,644 inhabitants (2013) and an area of . This urban area is the centre of the metropolitan area of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, formed by 16 _communes_ with a population of 20,180 inhabitants and an area of .

## Administration

Villefranche-de-Rouergue is a subprefecture of the Aveyron department, the capital of the _arrondissement_ of Villefranche-de-Rouergue and the administrative centre () of the canton of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, with 13,282 inhabitants <small>(2014)</small>.

It is part of the intercommunality _Le Grand Villefranchois_ ().

### Sister cities

Villefranche-de-Rouergue is twinned with:
- Bihać, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Pula, Croatia
- Sarzana, Italy

## Related pages

- Arrondissements of the Aveyron department
- Communes of the Aveyron department

## Other websites

- Mairie de Villefranche-de-Rouergue - Official website
- Office de Tourisme de Villefranche-de-Rouergue

## Infobox (french commune)

- **name**: Villefranche-de-Rouergue
- **commune status**: Subprefectures in France, Subprefecture and Communes of France, commune
- **image coat of arms**: Blason ville fr Villefranche-de-Rouergue (Aveyron).svg
- **image coat of arms size**: 70px
- **image**: Aerial image of Villefranche-de-Rouergue (view from the west).jpg
- **caption**: Villefranche seen from the air
- **arrondissement**: Arrondissement of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Villefranche-de-Rouergue
- **canton**: Villefranche-de-Rouergue
- **intercommunality**: Le Grand Villefranchois
- **mayor**: Serge Roques
- **term**: 2014-2020
- **elevation m**: 391
- **elevation min m**: 237
- **elevation max m**: 544
- **area km2**: 45.85
- **population demonym**: Villefranchois
- **population**: 11822
- **population date**: 2014
- **insee**: 12300
- **postal code**: 12200
- **website**: [http://www.villefranchederouergue.fr/ www.villefranchederouergue.fr]