# Villefranche-de-Conflent

> commune in Pyrénées-Orientales, France

**Wikidata**: [Q501114](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q501114)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villefranche-de-Conflent)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/villefranche-de-conflent

## Summary
Villefranche-de-Conflent is a commune located in the Pyrénées-Orientales department of France, situated within the historical comarca of Conflent and the arrondissement of Prades. It is a territorial subdivision classified as a commune of France and is associated with the historical Fort Liberia.

## Key Facts
- **Location**: Pyrénées-Orientales department, Occitania region, France.
- **Historical Region**: Conflent (historical comarca).
- **Administrative Division**: Arrondissement of Prades.
- **Classification**: Commune of France (inception: 1789).
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 42.587222222222, Longitude 2.3677777777778.
- **Associated Fortification**: Fort Liberia (inception: 1681).
- **Association**: Member of "The Most Beautiful Villages of France" (inception: 1982).
- **Population Data**: 220, 212, 218, 213, 211, 210, 209, 207, 205, 215.
- **Official Website**: http://www.villefranchedeconflent.fr
- **Sitelink Count**: 44.

## FAQs
**Where is Villefranche-de-Conflent located?**
Villefranche-de-Conflent is situated in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in the region of Occitania, France. It lies within the historical comarca of Conflent and is part of the arrondissement of Prades.

**What is the administrative status of the commune?**
The entity is a commune of France, which is a territorial subdivision for municipalities established in 1789. It operates within the semi-presidential republic framework of the French state.

**What historical landmarks are associated with the commune?**
The commune is associated with Fort Liberia, a fort that was established in 1681. It is also recognized as a member of "The Most Beautiful Villages of France," an independent association founded in 1982.

**What are the geographic coordinates of Villefranche-de-Conflent?**
The precise geographic coordinates for the commune are a latitude of 42.587222222222 and a longitude of 2.3677777777778.

## Why It Matters
Villefranche-de-Conflent serves as a significant administrative and cultural unit within the French territorial framework. As a commune, it represents the fundamental level of administrative division in France, a country that plays a central role in international affairs as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and a founding member of the European Union. Its inclusion in "The Most Beautiful Villages of France" highlights its cultural and aesthetic value, contributing to the tourism and heritage preservation efforts of the nation. The presence of Fort Liberia, dating back to 1681, underscores the historical military importance of the region within the broader context of French history.

## Notable For
- **Historical Fortification**: Association with Fort Liberia, a fort established in 1681.
- **Cultural Recognition**: Designation as a member of "The Most Beautiful Villages of France" association.
- **Administrative Heritage**: Status as a commune of France, a subdivision type incepted in 1789.
- **Geographic Identity**: Location within the historical comarca of Conflent.
- **Demographic Scale**: Population figures recorded between 205 and 220.

## Body

### Geography and Location
Villefranche-de-Conflent is geographically positioned at coordinates 42.587222222222 latitude and 2.3677777777778 longitude. It is located in the Pyrénées-Orientales, a French department in the region of Occitania. The commune falls within the arrondissement of Prades and is historically part of the Conflent comarca. This places it within the broader territory of France, which spans 643,801 square kilometers and includes metropolitan France in Western Europe as well as overseas territories in the Americas, Africa, Oceania, and Antarctica.

### Administration and Classification
As a commune of France, Villefranche-de-Conflent functions as a territorial subdivision for municipalities, a system established in 1789. It is integrated into the administrative hierarchy of France, a unitary semi-presidential republic with a decentralized administration. The national executive branch is shared between President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. The commune operates under the legal framework of the Fifth Republic, established by the constitution of October 4, 1958.

### Heritage and Landmarks
The commune is notably associated with Fort Liberia, a fortification with an inception date of 1681. This historical site contributes to the area's cultural heritage. Additionally, Villefranche-de-Conflent is recognized by "The Most Beautiful Villages of France" (Les Plus Beaux Villages de France), an independent association created on March 6, 1982, to promote small French villages with rich cultural and historical heritage.

### Demographics
Population records for Villefranche-de-Conflent show fluctuations in recent years, with data points including 220, 212, 218, 213, 211, 210, 209, 207, 205, and 215. This demographic data places the commune within the context of the larger French population, which was estimated at 68,605,616 as of January 1, 2025.

### National Context
Villefranche-de-Conflent is part of France, a country with significant global influence. France is a founding member of the European Union (since March 25, 1957) and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (since October 24, 1945). The nation possesses nuclear weapons, a status attained in 1960, and is a member of NATO (since April 4, 1949).

The French economy is robust, with a nominal GDP of approximately $2.78 trillion USD (2022) and a government budget of €455.2 billion (2023). The currency used is the Euro (EUR) in metropolitan France, while the CFP Franc is utilized in overseas territories. France is known for its high standard of living, with a Human Development Index of 0.903 (2021) and a life expectancy of 82 years.

Culturally, France is defined by its motto "Liberté, égalité, fraternité," its tricolore flag, and its national anthem "La Marseillaise." The country drives on the right, uses the metric system, and operates electrical grids at 230 volts and 50 Hz. France is also a global leader in tourism, often cited as one of the world's top tourist destinations, and maintains the second-largest Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) globally due to its vast overseas territories.

## References

1. Géoportail
2. BnF authorities
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
5. INSEE code
6. OpenStreetMap
7. répertoire géographique des communes
8. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
9. Annuaire de service-public.fr
10. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017
11. Populations légales 2016
12. Populations légales 2017
13. Populations légales 2018
14. Populations légales 2019
15. Populations légales 2020
16. Populations légales 2021
17. Populations de référence 2022
18. Populations de référence 2023
19. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0
20. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
21. [Source](https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k65296603)
22. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
23. GeoNames
24. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z)
25. [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)
26. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
27. [Code officiel géographique. 2020](https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/8442dfae-a878-49c6-be4c-20689b1c337c)
28. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)
29. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File