Villefranche sur Mer
By Anna Lynn Sibal
The French Riviera is the playground of the wealthy and the famous in the entirety of Europe. At the center of this marvelous bay is the small port town of Villefranche sur Mer.
Small as Villefranche sur Mer is, it is a town that has a charm, beauty and importance of its own. Sitting on terraced hills overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, it is considered to be a perfect natural amphitheater and is one of the deepest natural harbors in all of the Mediterranean. The location and the natural safety of the harbor in Villefranche-sur-Mer make it the most important port of call in the whole of France among Mediterranean cruise lines.
Villefranche-sur-Mer is a very old town. You will feel the age and the history of the place as you walk along the streets of the town, especially in the part of The Old Town, where the remnants of Villefranche-sur-Mer’s medieval past still remains. The town was established by Charles II, Duke of Anjou in 1295 in an attempt to protect the coastline from pirate attacks.
Tourists are attracted to Villefranche sur Mer for the same reason that they are attracted to other tourist spots along the Mediterranean Sea. They want to bask in the warmth and the mild Mediterranean weather that has blessed that part of France. But more than that, Villefranche sur Mer is the perfect place to go if you want to enjoy the beach, to go for a swim and some sunbathing, but with some quiet and some privacy. Villefranche sur Mer is not as crowded or bustling with tourists as the neighboring towns along the French Riviera.
The relative quiet and private atmosphere offered by Villefranche sur Mer is also probably the reason why many wealthy and famous people have residences here. On your visit to Villefranche-sur-Mer, you will see many grand mansions and villas belonging to these rich and popular personalities.
Villefranche sur Mer is also a great place to be immersed in history. You can go on long walks to visit churches and edifices dating back to the Middle Ages. Here are some historic spots you should visit when going to Villefranche-sur-Mer:
The Citadel. This immense wall and fort was built by Emmanuel Philibert, the Duke of Savoy, in 1557 to keep the Franco-Turkish armies at bay when Villefranche-sur-Mar was being disputed for by France and Savoy. Today, the aging fortress houses the town hall and administrative offices, as well as museums, an auditorium and an open-air theater.
Rue Obscure. This is a covered street to which the Five Doors leading to the city once opened. Today, only the Portal Robert remains of these five doors. It is located along the first rampant of The Citadel.
Chapelle St. Pierre. St. Peter’s Chapel was once the site of a cult, and then a storage house for fishermen. In 1957, renowned filmmaker and artist Jean Cocteau asked for permission to restore the place as an act of friendship with the people of Villefranche sur Mer.
For visitors who love to go shopping while on vacation, Villefranche sur Mer has a lovely market in Octroi. But if the pickings are too small for you on this matter, Nice is only five minutes away by train.
Villefranche-sur-Mer is the perfect place to go if you want to go on a beach holiday where you can have some peace and quiet, as well as enjoy the charm of an old seaside town.
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