The town seems to have fled the Saône to group around its collegiate church of Notre-Dame-des-Marais, and to spread along the RN6, called the Rue Nat' by the inhabitants.
Its original charter dates from 1260, when the Sires of Beaujeu decided to create a town to counterbalance their sworn enemies, the archbishops of Lyon. From the very beginning there were two main buildings within fortified Villefranche: Notre-Dame-des-Marais Church (so called because of a statue of the Madonna found on the marshy banks of the Morgon) and Pescherie hospital.
Wander down the rue Nat' and you will see a lot of other roads winding off from it. Even though the silhouette of Notre-Dame is lofty, the town centre is stuffed with other assets, the foremost of these are the private houses that were built at the beginning of the 15th century. These Renaissance residences are richly ornate, with little towers, winding staircases, galleries and sculpted blazons, the like of which made Lyon part of UNESCO's world heritage.
Villefranche's care for its heritage is illustrated in the creation of a Maison du Patrimoine, Musée de la Conscription (heritage and conscription museums) and a large picture museum - the Musée Dini.
 

Other institutions show the intemporal face of Villefranche. Of these is the covered market. It has brought together shoppers, salesmen, farmers and local craftsmen every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning.
Since time (almost) immemorial the town has vibrated in January to the sound of the 'Fête des Classes', when a wave of black evening suits, top hats and rosettes carry all before them. This ritual builds links between generations of Villefranche men.
Villefranche also has a long hospital tradition including the Hôtel-Dieu, which is now used for several town offices including the Maison du Tourisme.