Villefrancon

Villefrancon is a commune in Haute -Saône in the Franche -Comté.

Geography

Villefrancon situated at an altitude of 212 m above sea level, 12 km east-southeast of Gray and about 29 km northwest of the city of Besançon (air line). The village is located in the southwest of the department, in the basin of the Saone, in the valley of the Colombine, northwest of the heights of the Monts de Gy.

The area of 5.65 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the rolling countryside of south-east of the Saône. The eastern boundary is marked here and there by the stream of Colombine, which provides for the drainage north to the Morte. It flows through a wide Alluvialniederung which lies in the center at 200 m. To the west, the municipality's area extends to the adjacent plateau, which is composed of sediments, which date back to the Tertiary and Cretaceous. It is primarily used for agricultural purposes. In the northwest, the area extends into the grove of the Grand Bois. With 238 m find the highest mountains of Villefrancon is achieved.

Neighboring communities of Villefrancon are Saint -Loup- Nantouard in the north, Choye in the east, Velloreille -lès- Choye in the south and Velesmes - Échevanne in the West.

History

Is first mentioned Villefrancon in 1240. During the Middle Ages the village belonged to the Free County of Burgundy and in the territory of the Bailliage d' amont. The local government had held the Lords of Gy that were under the jurisdiction of the archbishops of Besançon. During the Thirty Years' War the castle and a part of the village in 1636 by troops of Duke Bernhard of Saxe- Weimar were pillaged. Together with the Franche -Comté came Villefrancon with the Peace of Nijmegen in 1678 definitively to France. Today Villefrancon is a member of the 20 localities comprehensive community association Communauté de communes des Monts de Gy.

Attractions

The castle, once surrounded by a circular wall and grave system, was rebuilt in the 18th century. Nearby stands the chapel built in 1729. Additional area attractions include built in 1894 Calvaire and many restored farmhouses in the characteristic style of the Haute -Saône from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Population

With 136 inhabitants ( 1 January 2011) Villefrancon one of the smallest municipalities in the department of Haute- Saône. After the population had decreased significantly in the first half of the 20th century (1886 211 persons were still counted ), a slight population growth have been recorded since the early 1980s again.

Economy and infrastructure

Villefrancon was until well into the 20th century a predominantly by agriculture (crops, orchards and livestock ) embossed village. Outside of the primary sector, there are few jobs in the village. Some employed persons are also commuters who engage in the larger towns in the vicinity of their work.

The village has good transport links. It is located near the main road D474 which leads from Gray to Vesoul. Further road links exist with Velloreille -lès- Choye and Sauvigney -lès- Gray.

Commune in the department of Haute- Saône
Place in Franche -Comté

Arrondissement Arrondissement of Vesoul Cantons of France Postal codes in France Alluvium Bernard of Saxe-Weimar Wayside cross La Chapelle-Saint-Quillain Vantoux-et-Longevelle Vaux-le-Moncelot

805111