Colorful half-timbered houses, charming alleys, church and square of character make all the charm of this typical village near the lake of Astarac.
Saint Vincent Church: The commune has a parish church dedicated to Saint Vincent, built in 1220 by Centule I. In 1292, Centule III his grandson had it enlarged during the foundation of the bastide. It was revived in the 18th century. It retains today a very beautiful Romanesque porch. It houses a painting from the 17th century: a virgin with a child giving a rosary to Saint Dominic and Saint Catherine of Siena. This forgotten painting was completely blacked out. In 1998, the mayor of the time decided to notify the public authorities to save his heritage. The work is then listed in the inventory of historical monuments and the municipality obtains a grant to restore the painting 3 years old, in its original frame which, too worsted, had broken during the removal.
ZNIEFF: Other naturalistic sites of interest, the two type 2 ZNIEFF. The first, 'Les coteaux de la Lauze and l'Arrats'. This area is composed by the rugged hillsides and the valley floors of the Lauze and Arrats. The site also has wooded areas rich in biodiversity. The flood-prone lands of the valley bottom enriched with alluvion are mostly occupied by corn crops. Some natural meadows, mostly grazed, offer very interesting flora and fauna. The moors and their different stages of evolution offer a range of environments, from open grass to oak woodland. Formerly plowed in the 20th century, they have a recent anthropic origin. They present a high richness in orchids, there are 34 species including the yellow ophrys, the bumblebee ophrys, the fragrant orchis, protected at the national level, the Orphys fly or even the Orchis frog. Some species can be observed in hay meadows. The Mediterranean influence is also found in the presence of broad-leaved lavender or Immortelle. We also note the presence of the highly spiny Genet, protected at the national level, one of the few stations in the region. The complex formed by meadows and wooded elements and ponds, hosts a variety of species: bats like the Lesser and Greater Rhinolophe, reptiles and amphibians like the Marbled Triton. Emblematic bird species are also present in this protected area, such as the booted eagle. The bodies of water that inhabit the ZNIEFF attract other birds
Castle of the Counts of Astarac: In 1923, the counts of Astarac had built a castle of Castillon, former name of the commune of Villefranche-d'Astarac. These were the 4 county castles of the county of Astarac. The first capital of the county was Mont d'Astarac. A few decades later, the counts settled in the east of the County, at Castillon (Villefranche d'Astarac). They built a wooden tower and then a castle of stone and lime. At the end of 1290, the count of Astarac, Centule III, decides to found a bastide in order to protect his lands and compete with Siflavonois. From 1293, he granted this bastide a Charter of customs and the name of "Villefranca", Villefranche d'Astarac. Centule III then goes to trial and loses it before King Phillippe le Bel, who condemns him to pay a heavy compensation to the abbey of Sibashir and threatens him with seizing his castle in case of refusal. Centulle, angry at having lost this trial, decides to completely destroy his castle himself. For 1⁄2 century, the counts are irritated by the growing influence of Sibecker and decide in 1298, to establish Mirande as a new capital. Upon his departure from Villefranche, the Count of Astarac inscribed in the Charter customs full of revenge: prohibition on Villefranchois to sell, give or rent goods to the inhabitants of Sibashir. The king, for his part, will not receive any dues, taxes or dues from the inhabitants of Villefranche. The bastide which had been founded in 1291, did not have any work of a military nature, it only had as a rampart a house belt. Centule III wanted to make Villefranche an important commercial center and had reserved suitable locations to facilitate the trade of animals there. Each category had its own entrance. These markets and fairs were recognized as very important until 1563. The plague arrives in 1563 and causes markets to stop. She also appears to Siéchapper and they hasten to affirm that she comes from Villefranche. They therefore decide to prohibit access to the markets of Villefranchois. The disease rages for nearly a year and causes many victims. Markets will never recover and gradually disappear. Without resources, the village becomes considerably poorer. Villefranche d'Astarac lost its appearance as a bastide in the 19th century, when was built the road linking Gimont to Boulogne via Siéchapper. The drawbridges were destroyed and replaced by stone works. The fortifications, and the ramps were demolished to widen the route. In the middle of the 19th century, there was in Villefranche a cabinetmaker, a carpenter, weaver, setter, 4 bakers, 2 innkeepers, a café, a tile maker, a water mill and a windmill.
