Villefranche on the Saone east of relatively recent creation compared to its neighbors (Lyon and Mâcon).

It is “only” about the middle of XIIth century that the lord of Beaujeu Humbert III decides to create a city near a crossing between a North-South road of Roman origin (the street current Nationale) and a East-West road coming from Winnowing machine or Thizy which made it possible to gain a ford on the Saone.

It wanted to also reinforce the Southern border of its fields vis-a-vis the Archbishops of Lyon which held the castle of Handle.

The lords of Beaujeu will grant to them various privileges and franknesses (from where the name from City-frank) which will be consigned later on in a written Charter. The specimen written in 1260 is always preciously preserved.

As of the original charter of 1260, by which the Lords de Beaujeu create a city able to make counterweight with the absolute power of the archbishops of Lyon, their sworn enemies, Villefranche takes the form of a nave: the old city (which corresponds today to the hyper-center) was built while following the diagram of a boat built around the axis of current National street. The latter being inclined at each end. The heart of this old city being the Notre-Dame of the Marshes collegial.

The Notre-Dame of the Marshes Collegial, classified historic building, was started in XIIth century, in Roman style. It was continued in Gothic and was completed at the beginning of XVIth, in blazing Gothic. The interior restoration (1998) highlighted a very rich and very light vault, pillars and intersecting ribs all different. This church has two bell-towers, one Roman and the other blazing, with a 72 height meters famous arrow.

There remains statue of the virgin found in the marshes only one pale copy. However, all was present for a place dedicated to the black virgin…

Some energies still present behind the furnace bridge, and of beautiful waste-gas mains outside. Traces of sculptures rappèlent us that this collegial A indeed built on a high energy place.

The Notre Dame of the Marshes collegial , Villefranche-on-Saone

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