VILLEFRANCHE-DE-ROUERGUE, a town of France, capital of an arrondissement in the department of Aveyron, 36 m.
W. of Rodez by road. Pop. (1931) 5,596. Villefranche, founded about 1252, owes its name to the numerous immunities granted by its founder Alphonse, count of Toulouse (d. 1271), and 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 Guienne to rise against the English. New privileges were granted to the town by King Charles V., but these were taken away by Louis XI. In 1588 the inhabit ants repulsed the forces of the League. Villefranche, which has a station on the Orleans railway, lies amongst the hills on the right bank of the Aveyron at its junction with the Alzou. One
of the three bridges that cross the river is of the 13th century, and there are many houses of the 13th and 14th centuries. The church of Notre Dame is flanked by a massive tower, beneath the porch of which passes one of the chief streets. The fine wood work in the choir dates from the isth century. The 15th and 16th century buildings (notably the fine refectory and two cloisters, the smaller a gem of late Gothic work) of a Carthusian monastery stand above the town on the left bank of the Aveyron. Quarries of phosphates and mines of galena and blende are worked near Villefranche. Villefranche is an agricultural centre with minor industries, and is the seat of a sub-prefect.