# La Francheville

> commune in Ardennes, France

**Wikidata**: [Q218732](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q218732)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Francheville)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/la-francheville

## Summary

La Francheville is a commune located in the Ardennes department in the Grand Est region of northeastern France. It is situated in the arrondissement of Charleville-Mézières and belongs to the canton of Mézières-Est. The commune sits at coordinates 49.729722222222°N latitude and 4.7147222222222°E longitude.

## Key Facts

- **Country**: France
- **Department**: Ardennes
- **Region**: Grand Est
- **Arrondissement**: Charleville-Mézières
- **Canton**: Mézières-Est
- **Type**: Commune of France (territorial subdivision established in 1789)
- **Coordinates**: 49.729722222222°N, 4.7147222222222°E
- **Official Website**: https://www.lafrancheville.fr
- **Alias**: Francheville
- **Wikidata Description**: commune in Ardennes, France
- **Wikipedia Title**: La Francheville
- **Image**: Municipal building (mairie) photographed by Havang(nl), licensed under CC0/public domain
- **Population Records**: Historical census data shows populations including 1,637; 1,690; 1,734; 1,685; 1,678; 1,369; 1,270; 1,077; 1,375; 1,590; 1,622; 1,587; 1,671; 1,664; 1,657; 1,647; 1,636

## FAQs

**What type of administrative area is La Francheville?**

La Francheville is a commune, which is the smallest territorial subdivision for municipalities in France. It was established as a commune type entity starting from 1789 during the French Revolution, replacing previous administrative divisions.

**Which department and region is La Francheville located in?**

La Francheville is located in the Ardennes department in the Grand Est region of northeastern France. It is part of the arrondissement of Charleville-Mézières and the canton of Mézières-Est.

**What are the exact geographical coordinates of La Francheville?**

La Francheville is situated at latitude 49.729722222222 degrees north and longitude 4.7147222222222 degrees east.

**What is the official website of La Francheville?**

The official municipal website is https://www.lafrancheville.fr.

**What notable building is associated with La Francheville?**

The commune features a municipal building (mairie) which has been photographed and made available on Wikimedia Commons. The image was taken by contributor Havang(nl) and is released under a CC0/public domain license.

## Why It Matters

La Francheville represents the fundamental unit of local governance in the French administrative system. As a commune in the Ardennes department, it contributes to the decentralized structure of French governance where municipalities handle local affairs while being part of larger administrative hierarchies (arrondissements, departments, and regions). The commune system, established during the French Revolution in 1789, remains the backbone of French local administration, with over 35,000 communes across the country. For La Francheville specifically, its location in the Ardennes—a department known for its forested terrain, historical significance (site of the famous Battle of the Bulge during World War II), and proximity to Belgium and Luxembourg—positions it as part of a strategically important border region in northeastern France.

## Notable For

- Part of the Ardennes department, one of France's easternmost departments bordering Belgium and Luxembourg
- Located in the canton of Mézières-Est, an administrative subdivision of France
- Part of the arrondissement of Charleville-Mézières, a significant urban area in the Grand Est region
- Historical population data spanning multiple census periods, demonstrating demographic continuity as a French commune

## Body

### Geography and Location

La Francheville is positioned in northeastern France within the Ardennes department, which is part of the Grand Est region. The commune lies at coordinates 49.729722222222 degrees north latitude and 4.7147222222222 degrees east longitude. This location places it in the western portion of the Ardennes department, not far from the departmental capital Charleville-Mézières. The Ardennes department is characterized by its forested landscapes, rolling hills, and proximity to Belgium and Luxembourg, making it a region of strategic importance in northeastern France.

### Administrative Structure

La Francheville operates as a commune, which is the French equivalent of a municipality or township. The commune system in France dates back to 1789, established during the French Revolution as part of the reorganization of local governance. La Francheville is part of the canton of Mézières-Est, which serves as an electoral district for various local and regional elections. Above the canton level, the commune belongs to the arrondissement of Charleville-Mézières, an administrative division that groups several cantons together within the department. The Ardennes department itself is one of 96 metropolitan departments in mainland France.

### Historical Demographics

The population data for La Francheville shows figures spanning various census years: 1,637; 1,690; 1,734; 1,685; 1,678; 1,369; 1,270; 1,077; 1,375; 1,590; 1,622; 1,587; 1,671; 1,664; 1,657; 1,647; and 1,636. These numbers indicate a commune of modest size, typical of rural French municipalities in the Ardennes region. The variation in population across different census periods reflects demographic shifts common to rural areas, including migration to urban centers and changes in local economic conditions.

### Municipal Infrastructure

The commune is served by an official website at https://www.lafrancheville.fr, providing residents and visitors with information about local services, governance, and community matters. The municipal building (mairie) serves as the administrative center for local government operations. An image of this building has been documented on Wikimedia Commons, photographed by user Havang(nl) and released under a CC0/public domain license, making it freely usable for documentation and educational purposes.

### Relationship to Connected Entities

La Francheville exists within a hierarchical administrative structure connected to several higher-level entities. At the national level, it is part of France, a country with a population of approximately 68.6 million people as of 2025, governed as a semi-presidential republic and a founding member of the European Union. At the regional level, it belongs to Grand Est, one of 18 administrative regions in France. At the departmental level, it is part of Ardennes, a department known for its industrial history and natural landscapes. The arrondissement of Charleville-Mézières provides intermediate administrative functions, while the canton of Mézières-Est handles electoral and some administrative responsibilities.

### Cultural and Administrative Identity

The commune carries the alias "Francheville" in various administrative contexts. Its Wikidata entry describes it simply as "commune in Ardennes, France," reflecting its status as a standard French municipal division. The Wikipedia article titled "La Francheville" provides additional documentation about the commune. The sitelink count of 46 indicates moderate visibility across Wikimedia projects, suggesting some international awareness of the commune, likely among those researching French geography or the Ardennes region.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
4. INSEE code
5. répertoire géographique des communes
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. Annuaire de service-public.fr
8. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017
9. Populations légales 2016
10. Populations légales 2017
11. Populations légales 2018
12. [Populations légales communales depuis 1968. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2522602)
13. Populations légales 2019
14. Populations légales 2020
15. Populations légales 2021
16. Populations de référence 2022
17. Populations de référence 2023
18. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
19. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
20. GeoNames
21. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z)
22. [2016](https://data.geopf.fr/telechargement/download/GEOFLA/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28.7z)
23. [Code officiel géographique. 2020](https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/8442dfae-a878-49c6-be4c-20689b1c337c)
24. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)