The square was founded by Alphonse de Jourdain's successor, Alphonse de Poitiers, who granted the town its charter.
The ground-floor arcades were originally designed to protect market goods from the elements while providing sheltered walkways for citizens.
The stone used for many of the surrounding facades is typical of the Aveyron region, characterized by its warm, light-colored limestone.
The square is one of the best-preserved examples of an original bastide 'place' in Southern France.
Place Notre-Dame is the central square of the medieval bastide town of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, founded in 1252. The square is defined by its 13th-century Gothic arcades, known as the Arcades Alfonse de Poitiers, which house shops and traditional residences. The layout follows a classic bastide grid plan centered on an open market space. The Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame, featuring a prominent octagonal bell tower, stands directly adjacent to the square. The square served as the focal point for the town's historical economic activity and regional trade. It remains the primary public gathering point for the municipality. The architectural uniformity of the surrounding townhouses reflects the town's original urban planning.
From the center of the square looking toward the arcades with the bell tower of the Collegiate Church in the background.
Visit on a Thursday morning to experience the traditional weekly market, which has occupied this square for centuries.
Look up at the upper floors of the surrounding houses to see original corbelled timber-framing, known as 'encorbellement'.
Spend time observing the distinct architectural transition between the medieval arcades and the later Renaissance-style windows on the upper stories.
Do not overlook the small, narrow alleyways (andrones) leading away from the square, which were originally built to allow for drainage and structural separation of buildings.
The square itself is public and always accessible, but the weekly market takes place specifically on Thursday mornings.
