Villefranche-sur-Mer 🇫🇷 Most Colorful City in the French Riviera | Côte d'Azur 4K Walk

Villefranche-sur-Mer is located on the French Riviera, between Nice and Monaco, on the Mediterranean Sea. It enjoys a very mild climate: high cliffs shelter it from the east, west, and north winds. The south, open to the sea, is nevertheless protected by the narrowness of the roadstead, except during rare but spectacular winter gales.

00:00 City entrance, shops & restaurants
02:30 The Old Town
08:29 Rue Obscure
10:07 Upper Old Town
13:05 Church of Saint-Michel-de-Villefranche-sur-Mer and surroundings
16:53 Lower Old Town
18:51 The Port and Chapelle Saint-Pierre
23:28 La Citadelle and Darse de Villefranche-sur-Mer

Villefranche-sur-Mer tourist information site: http://www.tourisme-villefranche-sur-...

How to get to Villefranche-sur-Mer:
From Nice, the easiest is to take the train from Nice-Ville to Villefranche (it will take you 7 min only). You can also take the bus from Port Lympia (there is a tramway stop) and then take bus 15 from the Port Lympia/Arson stop (a 15-minute journey). Get off at the Octroi bus stop and walk for 5 minutes to the Old City.
From Monaco, there is a train that will take you to Villefranche in 30 minutes.

📌 Location: Villefranche-sur-Mer (06) - France
Date recorded: Wednesday, August 10th, 2022 at 2PM
Weather: ☀️ 31 °C | 87.8 °F 🌡

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HISTORY OF VILLEFRANCHE-SUR-MER
In 1295, Charles II of Anjou, Count of Provence, understood the strategic importance of this site, located on the borders of his territory. In order to encourage the inhabitants to come back and populate the seaside, he granted them a tax exemption. The village was thus named Villa Franca.

The city became the only maritime gateway to the States of Savoy until the construction of the port of Nice in the eighteenth century, and it drew its income from all the merchant ships that docked at the port (Villefranche rights). During the 18th century, the city lost its maritime and port importance with the construction of the Lympia port of Nice. Villefranche-sur-Mer is no longer the leading cruise port in France, having been overtaken by Marseille in 2008.

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THINGS TO DO IN VILLEFRANCHE SUR MER

1. THE OLD VILLAGE
The old village district is a maze of narrow streets that wind from the shore to the heights of the city. The houses are picturesque, old and colorful. Venture into this tangle of stairs, narrow streets and pedestrian passages to get a good feel for the authentic life of the village. In passing, admire the church of Saint-Michel, the chapel of Saint-Pierre des Pécheurs, the Citadelle Saint-Elme, and the Rue Obscure dating from 1260.

2. THE CITADELLE
The citadel of Villefranche-sur-Mer (known as Fort Saint-Elme) is a remarkable achievement of the Duke of Savoy dating from 1554 to 1557, with its moats dug into the rock.

3. THE PORT OF LA DARSE
The port of La Darse is the first and largest port of Villefranche-sur-Mer. The first dock was built in the 16th century, at the same time as Fort Saint-Elme. It was then enlarged in the 18th century, with the addition of an arsenal and a shipyard. At the time, it was an important defense port for the House of Savoy.

4. THE VIEW FROM THE SAINT-MICHEL PLATEAU
The Saint-Michel plateau is a small district perched between the Moyenne Corniche and the Grande Corniche. From a height of more than 300 meters, it offers a splendid view of Beaulieu-sur-Mer and the villa Kerylos below, the peninsula of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, and the roadstead of Villefranche.

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