Oceanographic Research Center

One of the least known and biggest pieces (180 people) of the Villefranche community is the oceanographic research center next to the Darse. It celebrated its 125th anniversary last month (Oct 2010). While its website is entirely in French, there is much information there about the center's work. (Here is an entry about the anniversary and another article (in French) from one of the area's weekly publications, Le Petit Nicois. You'll note from a typical local French newspaper photo that the well-known people attending the anniversary included Prince Albert of Monaco, the mayor of Nice, the president of the departmental council, and the mayor of Villefranche.) Here (in French) is how the town itself reported the anniversay events last month. The local French economic development agency uses something like this event for its advantage as well, as you can see here (in French).