Châteauneuf-Villevieille
History
The village was founded in the Middle Ages by inhabitants of nearby Contes. They were seeking a site sheltered from the instability in the valley at the time.
Jean de Revest (?-1347) was the coseigneur (lord) of Châteauneuf. He was a knight, a judge in Avignon (1314), grand judge of Piedmont (1322), judge of appeal of the Kingdom of Sicily (1331), and lieutenant to the seneschal (1340). Born to a family that had been in Nice since the late 13th century, he later moved to Aix. In 1309 or 1310 he married Sybille Chabaud, lady of Châteauneuf and daughter of the noble Boniface Chabaud.
The territory of Bendejun and Cantaron belonged formerly to the commune. They were separated in 1911 to form separate communes.
Formerly called Châteauneuf, the commune was renamed Châteauneuf-de-Contes in 1961. In 1992, the name was changed again to Châteauneuf-Villevieille.
Geography
It is located 22 km (14 mi) north of Nice, its administrative center , in the Férion mountain range.
Population
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 225 | — |
| 1975 | 260 | +2.09% |
| 1982 | 402 | +6.42% |
| 1990 | 571 | +4.48% |
| 1999 | 684 | +2.03% |
| 2009 | 854 | +2.24% |
| 2014 | 905 | +1.17% |
| 2020 | 956 | +0.92% |
| Source: INSEE | ||
Sights
At its center is a 12th-century church.