# Villefranche-sur-Mer

> commune in Alpes-Maritimes, France

**Wikidata**: [Q207080](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q207080)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villefranche-sur-Mer)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/villefranche-sur-mer

## Summary
Villefranche-sur-Mer is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department of France, located on the French Riviera (Côte d'Azur). It is an administrative commune within the arrondissement of Nice, known locally by the alias Vilafranca de Mar and hosting notable sites such as Villa La Léopolda and the Oceanological Observatory of Villefranche-sur-Mer.

## Key Facts
- Villefranche-sur-Mer is a commune in Alpes-Maritimes, France.  
- Geographic coordinates: latitude 43.704166666667, longitude 7.3116666666667.  
- Official alias: Vilafranca de Mar.  
- Official website: https://villefranche-sur-mer.fr/  
- Wikidata description: "commune in Alpes-Maritimes, France".  
- Wikipedia page title: Villefranche-sur-Mer.  
- Sitelink count (source): 59.  
- Administrative arrondissement: arrondissement of Nice (France).  
- Department: Alpes-Maritimes (French department; inception +1860-06-23).  
- Historical canton: canton of Villefranche-sur-Mer (a canton of France until March 2015).  
- Classification: commune of France (territorial subdivision; inception +1789).  
- Located on the French Riviera (Mediterranean coastline of southeastern France).  
- Villa La Léopolda is a villa located in Villefranche-sur-Mer on the French Riviera (inception +1902).  
- Oceanological Observatory of Villefranche-sur-Mer is a field campus of Université Paris 6 located in the town (inception +1882; country: France; headquarters identifier: ).  
- Population data (values from the provided source): 5326.0; 5112.0; 5146.0; 5091.0; 5064.0; 6790.0; 7200.0; 7363.0; 8080.0; 6833.0; 6610.0; 5416.0; 5033.0; 5002.0; 4989.0; 5012.0; 5008.0.

## FAQs
Q: Where is Villefranche-sur-Mer located?  
A: Villefranche-sur-Mer is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department of France, on the French Riviera, and administratively part of the arrondissement of Nice.

Q: What administrative units has Villefranche-sur-Mer belonged to?  
A: It is a French commune (a territorial subdivision established from 1789), located in the Alpes-Maritimes department (inception 23 June 1860) and within the arrondissement of Nice; it was the seat of the canton of Villefranche-sur-Mer until March 2015.

Q: What notable institutions and landmarks are in Villefranche-sur-Mer?  
A: The town hosts Villa La Léopolda (inception 1902) and the Oceanological Observatory of Villefranche-sur-Mer, a field campus of Université Paris 6 (inception 1882).

Q: What are the town’s identifying online and data properties?  
A: The commune’s website is https://villefranche-sur-mer.fr/, its Wikipedia title is "Villefranche-sur-Mer", its Wikidata description is "commune in Alpes-Maritimes, France", and the source sitelink_count is 59.

Q: How many people live in Villefranche-sur-Mer according to the provided figures?  
A: The provided source lists multiple population values; the set of reported population figures includes: 5326, 5112, 5146, 5091, 5064, 6790, 7200, 7363, 8080, 6833, 6610, 5416, 5033, 5002, 4989, 5012, and 5008.

## Why It Matters
Villefranche-sur-Mer matters as a coastal commune on the French Riviera that combines administrative significance with scientific and cultural assets. As part of the Alpes-Maritimes department and the Nice arrondissement it participates in the regional governance structure of southeastern France. The presence of the Oceanological Observatory of Villefranche-sur-Mer, a long-established field campus of Université Paris 6 (inception 1882), gives the town scientific importance for marine and oceanographic research on the Mediterranean coast. Architecturally and culturally, the town hosts Villa La Léopolda (inception 1902), a notable villa situated on the Côte d'Azur. Its location on the French Riviera situates it within one of France’s most recognized Mediterranean coastal regions, linking local administration, research infrastructure, and coastal heritage.

## Notable For
- Being a commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department and part of the arrondissement of Nice.  
- Location on the French Riviera (Côte d'Azur), a prominent Mediterranean coastline.  
- Hosting Villa La Léopolda, a villa established circa 1902 within the town.  
- Hosting the Oceanological Observatory of Villefranche-sur-Mer, a Université Paris 6 field campus established circa 1882.  
- Former role as the seat of the canton of Villefranche-sur-Mer until its canton status ended in March 2015.  
- Possessing a distinct local alias: Vilafranca de Mar.  
- Maintaining an official municipal website at https://villefranche-sur-mer.fr/.  
- Recorded multiple population data points across different reporting intervals (values provided in source).

## Body

### Overview and Location
- Villefranche-sur-Mer is a coastal commune in southeastern France.  
- It lies on the French Riviera, the Mediterranean coastline of the southeast corner of France.  
- Coordinates: 43.704166666667 N, 7.3116666666667 E.  
- The town is part of the national framework of communes in France, a territorial subdivision established from 1789.

### Administrative Status
- Country affiliation: France.  
- Department: Alpes-Maritimes, a French department with an inception date of 23 June 1860.  
- Arrondissement: Nice.  
- Canton: Villefranche-sur-Mer served as a canton of France until March 2015; it is noted as a historical administrative unit for the commune.  
- Classification: Villefranche-sur-Mer is officially recorded as a commune of France.

### Population and Demographics (provided figures)
- The source supplies a series of population values for Villefranche-sur-Mer: 5326; 5112; 5146; 5091; 5064; 6790; 7200; 7363; 8080; 6833; 6610; 5416; 5033; 5002; 4989; 5012; 5008.  
- These figures represent reported population points from the provided material; no specific years were attached in the source.

### Landmarks and Institutions
- Villa La Léopolda: a villa located in the town of Villefranche-sur-Mer on the French Riviera. The villa's inception is recorded as approximately 1902.  
- Oceanological Observatory of Villefranche-sur-Mer: a field campus of Université Paris 6 situated in Villefranche-sur-Mer on the Côte d'Azur. The observatory's inception is recorded as circa 1882. The observatory is associated with country: France and a headquarters identifier  as provided in the source data. The observatory appears in the source material with identical descriptions in two entries, confirming its established role in the town.

### Regional Context and Relations
- Villefranche-sur-Mer is located within Alpes-Maritimes, one of the French departments formed in the mid-19th century (inception +1860-06-23).  
- The commune is administered within the arrondissement of Nice, an arrondissement-level subdivision in France.  
- The town historically gave its name to a canton (canton of Villefranche-sur-Mer) which existed until March 2015.  
- The town is part of the broader French Riviera region, a Mediterranean coastal area that includes many coastal communes in southeastern France.

### Names, Identifiers, and Online Presence
- Alias: Vilafranca de Mar.  
- Official municipal website: https://villefranche-sur-mer.fr/.  
- External reference identifiers from the source: Wikipedia title "Villefranche-sur-Mer", Wikidata short description "commune in Alpes-Maritimes, France", and a sitelink_count from the source of 59.

### Connections to National Structures
- As a French commune, Villefranche-sur-Mer is part of the national municipal system established in France from 1789.  
- It is subject to departmental and arrondissement administration under Alpes-Maritimes and Nice respectively.  
- The Oceanological Observatory’s affiliation with Université Paris 6 links the town to national higher-education and research networks.

### Source-derived Temporal Notes
- Alpes-Maritimes department inception: 1860-06-23.  
- Villa La Léopolda inception: circa 1902.  
- Oceanological Observatory of Villefranche-sur-Mer inception: circa 1882.  
- Commune structure inception (France-wide): 1789.  
- Canton of Villefranche-sur-Mer existed until March 2015 (date of cantonal reorganisation noted).

### Data and Metadata Provided
- The source lists multiple historic population figures (see Population and Demographics section).  
- Coordinates are given to high precision (43.704166666667, 7.3116666666667).  
- The source provides an alias, a municipal website link, a Wikidata description, a Wikipedia title, and a sitelink_count value.  
- The Oceanological Observatory is documented twice in the source with identical descriptions, underscoring its institutional presence in the town.

### Related Entities (as listed in source)
- France — the country in which Villefranche-sur-Mer is located.  
- Canton of Villefranche-sur-Mer — former canton unit (until March 2015).  
- Alpes-Maritimes — department containing the commune.  
- Arrondissement of Nice — arrondissement containing the commune.  
- Villa La Léopolda — villa located in Villefranche-sur-Mer on the French Riviera (inception +1902).  
- Oceanological Observatory of Villefranche-sur-Mer — Université Paris 6 field campus in the town (inception +1882; headquarters: ).  
- Commune of France — the municipal classification to which Villefranche-sur-Mer belongs.

This entry is based solely on the provided source material and includes every provided relationship, property, and data point associated with Villefranche-sur-Mer.

## References

1. Source
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. Integrated Authority File
4. BnF authorities
5. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
6. INSEE code
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8. répertoire géographique des communes
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15. Populations légales 2017
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27. [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)
28. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
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31. YouTube API