Villeneuve-sur-Lot
Villeneuve-sur-Lot is a city in the region Aquitaine. It is the second largest city in the departement Lot-et-Garonne. The largest city in that departement is Agen. The region where the city is was first populated by the Romans. In the 11th century a benedictine abbey was constructed near the city. There was a small village of potters and farmers around the abbey. Between 1254 and 1263, Alphonse of Poitiers had a bastide built. He also gave the bastide city rights, and a 46 article charta defining life in the city. The bastide is a two-axis, rectangular design, with a central square. Because of its privileged geographical situation on the river lot, the city played an important role in wars of the region:
- In the Hundred Years' War
- In the Huguenot wars
- In the Fronde, a civil war in France.
As of 1999, 24.700 people lived in the city.
