Villeréal
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The church in Villeréal
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 Villeréal
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Location within Nouvelle-Aquitaine region
Villeréal
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| Coordinates: 44°38′15″N 0°44′38″E / 44.6375°N 0.7439°ECoordinates: 44°38′15″N 0°44′38″E / 44.6375°N 0.7439°E | ||
| Country | France | |
| Region | Nouvelle-Aquitaine | |
| Department | Lot-et-Garonne | |
| Arrondissement | Arrondissement of Villeneuve-sur-Lot | |
| Canton | Canton of Villeréal | |
| Intercommunality | Communauté de communes du Pays Villeréalais | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor (2008–2014) | Pierre-Henri Arnstam | |
| Area1 | 13.92 km2 (5.37 sq mi) | |
| Population (1999)2 | 1,186 | |
| • Density | 85/km2 (220/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 47324 /47210 | |
| Elevation | 78–168 m (256–551 ft) (avg. 120 m or 390 ft) |
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1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. |
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1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
Villeréal is a commune in the Lot-et-Garonne department in south-western France.
In 1265, Gaston de Gontaut-Biron gave part of the Montlabour forest to the Count Alphonse de Poitiers, brother of the King Louis IX of France and Count of Toulouse. The new Bastide was built in the next four years and the King signed a contract in 1269 determining the legal statutes of the Villereal. In addition, Villereal was occupied by the English from 1279 to 1453. King Edward I of England signed the “Charte des Coutumes de la Cité” on April 20, 1288, which protected the inhabitants and set the rules of life in the village community. Due to this charter Saturday was fixed as the market day.
Villereal structure follows the basic plan of Bastides. It has 8 main streets, set at right angles, surround the large central square. The “halle”, the main market building is spacious and with an unusual wattle and upper storey. Villereal is a great example for those who believe arcades were not part of the original design. The exterior stairs lead to upper levels of marketplace buildings. Villereal’s exterior stairways would be necessary only if arcades were added to an existing building, since they provided access to the room above the street.
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Wikipedia