Villefranche-de-Conflent: A UNESCO Treasure Nestled in the French Pyrenees

We visited Villefranche-de-Conflent during our 10-day summer holiday in the Pyrenees. The village is located about 440 metres above sea level, nestled in a deep valley and surrounded by the Cady and Tet rivers. Founded in the late 11th century by the Count of Cerdagne, it originally served as an Aragonese outpost, positioned against the French defensive line known as the Fils de Carcassonne.

Today, Villefranche-de-Conflent is celebrated for its remarkable military architecture and holds UNESCO World Heritage status. Renowned as one of the most beautiful villages in France, it attracts many visitors. The town has preserved its rich history and continues to stand as a testament to its strategic past.

Things to do in the village of Villefranche-de-Conflent:

• Walk along the ramparts of Villefranche-de-Conflent
• Admire the pink-coloured stone houses
• Dine in one of the gourmet restaurants
• Discover the treasures of St Jacques’ Romanesque Church
• Climb to Fort Libéria
• Take a ride on the Yellow Train
• Explore the Les Canalettes and Les Grandes Canalettes cave systems

Walk along the ramparts of Villefranche-de-Conflent

The ramparts around Villefranche-de-Conflent were built between the 11th and 13th centuries and originally featured eight towers as part of the fortifications. Some of these towers still stand today.

Several doorways provide access through the ramparts. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the locals constructed two neoclassical monumental gateways at both ends of the village: the Porte de France and the Porte de Espagne.

The massive, thick walls surround the entire village. Visitors can walk along the ramparts via two paths: an upper path built by Vauban and a tunnel vault dating back to the Middle Ages.

Admire the pink-coloured stone houses

The pink-coloured stone houses, built around the 13th century, are both famous and attractive. Many monuments, such as the Church of Saint-Jacques, feature pink marble.

As the village lies at the bottom of a valley and is confined within the walls, the houses along the streets are taller than usual to maximise space. Shops and restaurants occupy the ground floors, with their doorways often round or arched. Local inhabitants typically live upstairs. Some homes also have a central patio that allows light into the rooms.

The historic centre mainly consists of two streets: Place de l’Église and Rue Saint-Jean. I noticed several quirky craft shops, clothing stores, and buildings of interest. For example, one shop sells chocolates in a unique design style, while another, with a colourful decorated front, is a crêpe eatery. If I hadn’t looked closely, I wouldn’t have realized it was an eatery.

Dine in one of the gourmet restaurants

We had dinner at the upscale restaurant La Patio, which offers a variety of Catalan dishes. The starter on the set menu was mackerel with tarragon, prepared with traditional mustard and served with toast. It was absolutely delicious. The children’s menu, with options such as codfish or Catalan sausages as the main dish, costs only €10. According to TripAdvisor, it is ranked first among the top 15 best restaurants in Villefranche-de-Conflent.

There are plenty of other restaurants offering simple but tasty food at lower prices. Before boarding the Yellow Train that day, we had crêpes for lunch from a small eatery run by a German couple. They speak good English and French. My crêpe, with cured ham and cheese, cost only a few euros.

Discover the treasures of St Jacques’ Romanesque Church

The Church of Saint-Jacques has this stunning Romanesque-style entrance made of pink marble that immediately catches your eye. Inside, you’ll find some fascinating religious artwork, including Renaissance and Baroque altarpieces. It’s a lovely spot to explore, with a real sense of history and charm.

Climb to Fort Libéria

Fort Libéria in Villefranche-de-Conflent is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Built by Vauban, it stands 180 metres above the village. You can reach the fort by climbing a steep staircase up the hill. On the north side of the town, the beautiful Saint Pierre stone bridge leads you to the staircases. This bridge was rebuilt after the 1421 flood, which destroyed the town’s three bridges. In the 18th century, it became an important access route to Fort Libéria.

Also known as Villefranche Castle, Fort Libéria was built in 1681 to prevent the enemy from taking control of this strategic position overlooking the village. The fort could house a garrison of up to 100 men during peacetime and was fully capable of operating autonomously in the event of a siege. Its irregular design blends seamlessly with the mountain terrain. It’s definitely worth the climb, as the view from the top of Fort Libéria is truly impressive.

Take a ride on the Yellow Train

Villefranche-de-Conflent is the Yellow Train’s starting point. You can take a ride to another UNESCO place, Mont-Louis-La-Cabanasse.

The Yellow Train climbs up the steep mountains and down to the valleys, crosses remarkable landscapes, and passes many tunnels. It is a very scenic ride through French Pyrenees. We visited the town after our yellow train ride.

Explore the Les Canalettes and Les Grandes Canalettes cave systems

Cova Bastera is a prehistoric cave and a significant part of Conflent’s exceptional natural heritage. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The cave is located just in front of the ramparts, directly opposite the entrance to Villefranche-de-Conflent on the RN116.

Explore Les Canalettes and Les Grandes Canalettes cave systems

You really shouldn’t miss Les Canalettes and Les Grandes Canalettes. These caves form a fascinating and beautiful underground world that’s truly captivating.

Les Grandes Canalettes

Les Grandes Canalettes cave is located just 300 metres from the medieval town of Villefranche-de-Conflent. A well-marked trail takes you through a series of caves, each one showcasing stunning stalagmites, stalactites, and colourful mineral pillars. Every cave is named according to how the calcifications appear, making it even more interesting as you explore.

Les Canalettes

A little further down the road towards Corneilla de Conflent is another cave, Les Canalettes. This magical underground world first opened to visitors at Easter 1954, thanks to Jean Castillo. His son Elie and daughter-in-law Georgette later took over the management of the cave.

It’s such a shame we didn’t have time to visit these caves during our trip – they sound like a true highlight of the area! If you get the chance, I would highly recommend taking the time to explore them.

How to get to Villefranche-de-Conflent

There are four ways to travel from Villefranche-de-Conflent to Perpignan: by bus, train, taxi, or car. The most affordable option is to take the bus from Villefranche-de-Conflent to Perpignan. Buses are regular and provide a comfortable, budget-friendly journey. While the train can be a good option, the bus tends to be cheaper and offers a scenic route through the region.