The Manufacture royale de Villeneuvette was founded in 1674 as a wool-cloth manufactory and shortly afterwards was declared a royal manufactory by Colbert. The former manufacturing town of Villeneuvette and its hydraulic network were jointly listed as protected monuments by decree of 13 January 2014.
Anyone wishing to rent a holiday apartment in Villeneuvette can include this as an independent part of their travel planning.
History
The former manufacturing town was laid out according to an orthogonal plan around the rectangular Place Louis XIV. In the centre of the Place Louis XIV, beneath centuries-old plane trees, stands an 18th-century fountain. Guided tours of the former Manufacture royale de Villeneuvette showcase the impressive entrance, the cobbled lanes, the manor house, the Place Louis XIV and the water basin.
A one-hour audio-guided tour with the free Izi.Travel app explores Villeneuvette’s more recent history through the voices and memories of the people who live there.
Trails
At the end of the Grand-rue, the easy PR 52 hiking trail follows the Dourbie through the valley and up to the Montagne de Bruyère for around 1.5 hours.
The “Randonnée de Villeneuvette” circular hike is 3 km long, takes 1 hour and is very easy. It is a family-friendly trail leading to the remains of the town’s hydraulic heritage. The circular hike can be reached in less than a 10-minute walk from the “VILLENEUVETTE – Rd 908” bus stop.
Further discoveries
“Enquête dans l'ancienne Manufacture royale!” by Randoland is a playful puzzle trail for children aged 4 to 12. Sigrid’s small gallery at the edge of Villeneuvette displays enamel jewellery and shares its premises with other local creatives and artists. “La Dourbie – Exploration sensible d'une rivière” offers a river notebook with 16 audio capsules to listen to.
Local life
From 23 June 2026, the weekly “Mardis Bio” market is scheduled to take place on the Place Louis XIV, featuring vegetable, honey, olive-oil and plant producers.
