The river bastide of Villeneuve-sur-Lot

This is the most important feature of the bastide, as it is the place where economic and social life is structured.

A vast square, it is lined with covered galleries, the “cornières”, which are the natural extension of eight major carriageways. At the centre of the square was the market hall with the town hall. It also served as a place of justice, with a pillory.

Since the 13th century, it has been the venue of choice for colourful Saturday markets.

Long before the bastide was founded, the church of Saint-Étienne was no more than a modest chapel serving the few houses in the surrounding fishing villages.

A fine example oflate Southern Gothic architecture, the church was rebuilt in the 16th century. The arcaded bell tower was built in 1775 after the original bell tower was destroyed by lightning.

La Roseraie, thechurch’s ornamental garden, is a must-see when spring arrives and the rose bushes begin their flowering process.

Founded in 1657 and made up of lay people, the Confrérie des Pénitents Blancs (Brotherhood of the White Penitents) was essentially dedicated to collective penance and charity for the sick and needy.

Listed as a Historic Monument in 1994, the Pénitents Blancs chapel and its furnishings were listed in 2014. This status led to the launch of a project to restore the interior of the chapel, work on which began in January 2019 and was completed at the end of February 2020.

During the summer, the chapel is open to visitors free of charge. For more information, click here.

When it was built in 1864, a new architectural style was introduced, combining iron, cast iron and stone, like that of the Halles Centrales in Paris.

Later, the hall was converted for the traditional Saturday morning food market.

Today, the hall houses a restaurant, La Table du Marché, which combines gourmet cuisine, a warm ambience and uninterrupted views of the River Lot and its iconic bridges.