PRESENTATION

Then, if you wish to discover more about our region, if you are to think of your next holiday destination, just come around to the Information Bureau.

ACCESS TO THE TOURISM OFFICE

The Tourism Office is located in the great premises of the Castle of Flers, Chemin du Chat Botté, 59650 Villeneuve d'Ascq.

ACCESS BY CAR

Drive through Villeneuve d'Ascq by the " Boulevard du Breucq" (Route nationale 227), take the "Flers Château" Exit and follow the direction "Flers Château". Go straight away at the roundabout, then take the second on the left in "rue de la Chevalerie", and leave your car in the second car park on the left. And there you are!! You will see the castle 100 metres away from the Tourism Office. The access is on foot only.

ACCESS BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Take line 1 from the "Quatre Cantons" tube station in Villeneuve d'Ascq. Get off at "Pont de Bois" station. Bus number 41 (departing every 10 minutes) will drive you in five minutes to the "Château" stop. The castle of Flers is 100 metres away on foot.

Sightseeing destinations

Museums and heritage

Château de Flers

This 17th-century château, entirely refurbished in 1991, now houses an archeological museum, receptions rooms and the headquarters of Villeneuve d'Ascq's Tourist Information Office. It also hosts a number of temporary exhibitions and open-house days throughout the year.

Musée d'art moderne

Exceptionally located on the edge of the Urban Park, Villeneuve d'Ascq's Modern Art Museum is home to an outstanding collection of works donated by Geneviève and Jean Masurel in 1979. The collection comprises works by most of the avant-garde artists who lived in France during the first half of this century, in particular Cubist masterpieces by Georges Braque, Pablo Picasso and Henri Laurens as well as famous works by Fernand Léger and Amadeo Modigliani. In addition to various works illustrative of movements such as Fauvism, Surrealism and Art Naïf, the museum also boasts an interesting collection of works by artists from the North of France. Also Worth visiting : the museum's sculpture gardens.

Forum des Sciences, Centre François Mitterand

A 4,000-square metre centre devoted to helping visitors gain a better understanding of science and technology in today's world. The centre also seeks to provide an easily accessible source of information which is crucial to the understanding of the evolution of modern society. Discover the heavens at the centre's Planetarium, an aweinspiring, 140-seat facility equipped with a hemispheric screen measuring 14 metres in diameter. A fascinating experience for both adults and children alike.

Musée du Terroir

Founded during the early years of Villeneuve d'Ascq, the Rural Life Museum is housed in an 18th-century, red-brick square-style farm. It is entirely devoted to 19th-century village life in and around the Mélantois region.                                                                              Reconstitued interiors provide a myriad of details relating to everyday life. Exhibits include evocations of the arduous trades plied by blacksmiths and farmers, traditional games, a local estaminet (tavern) as well as village classroom scenes.

Musée des Moulins

Villeneuve d'Ascq's Windmill Museum, set in pleasant surroundings just metres away from the Urban Park, provides a unique opportunity to discover the captivating world of windmills. The museum boasts 2 pivoting windmills in the only grinding complex in the world still in operation today. Other exhibits include a hydraulic tilt hammer, mill stones, various mechanical components, an amazing collection of woodworking tools and various objects from other windmills around the region.

Asnapio

Life-size reconstitution of ancients building unearthed in the course of archaeological excavations.When completed, this 6-hectare park will boast some 20 building retracing the evolution of housing in the North of France over a period of 6,000 years, from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages.

Musée de l'Ecole

The former Pasteur school, which was finally closed in 1979, now houses a fully reconstitued classroom evoking school life of bygone times. In the course of the tour visitors are plunged into a 1930's school setting made all the more realistic by the peal of the school bell !

Musée du Souvenir

This museum was founded in memory of the Ascq Massacre during which 86 innocent victims were shot to death along the local railway on the night of Palm Sunday in 1944. Though a number of exhibits, which include the personal effects of some of the victims, the centre pays hommage to the men and women who lost their lives on that fateful night and bears witness against the ravages of war.

Pavillon de chasse

The Pavillon de Chasse is a jewel of the 18th century classical architecture, nestling in a bosky bower. It is also a place for temporary exhibitions on the theme of archaeology.

Villa Gabrielle et son jardin médiéval

The medieval garden can be visited only by appointment. The rest of the building is only visible from the outside.

Les Hameaux des Patrimoines

Opening in 2004

This site presents Flanders and Artois habitats, but also from further regions like Hainaut, Picardie, Denmark and should cover 24 ha.

Le Musée d'Egyptologie

The museum owns an important collection of jewels, funerary effects and vases from the 3rd millennium on till the 15th century B.C (only by appointment).

A remarkable religious heritage

Churches : St Pierre du Bourg, St Sébastien d'Annappes, Sacré Coeur du Sart, St Pierre d'Ascq, de la nativité et de la Cousinerie.

Nature

Villeneuve d'Ascq, the very green lung of Lille Métropole, provides varied walks with its 30 km footpaths, its 6 lakes chain, its parks, its 120 ha natural zone, and its 120.000 trees planted hill... The town is even crossed by a walking path (description available at the Tourist Office).

La Ferme du Héron

Initiation  activities into environmental discovery are offered to individuals, families, schools and associations, as well as guided tours around the Lac du Héron, on the theme of fauna and flora.

La Verger Conservatoire

Conservatoire is a living museum dedicated to the apple. Tachnicians from the Genetic Resources Regional. Centre protect and study former fruit varieties in order to introduce them again in the shops. Information at the Ferme du Héron.

La réserve Naturelle Volontaire du Héron

Created in 1995, it covers 73 ha. Walkers can discover along the paths varied natural atmospheres.

Le Parc du Héron

It is a unique transition between the urban environment and the protected agricultural site. The 36 ha Lac du Héron, originally artificial, became very soon a place where nature developed. It offers an astonishing ornithological diversity : 200 bird species have been observed so far, for the lake constitutes an important break or crossing place for migrant birds.

La Colline des Marchenelles

All created with the rubble of the lac du Héron, the hill covers 25 ha, among which 10 ha of forest (all in all 120.000 regional trees).

Le Parc Urbain

Very next to the Musée d'art moderne, it is the favourite place for joggers and families for its varied interests : pony-club, game and pic-nic areas, woody paths...

Lac du Château et lac des espagnols

Next to the Château de Flers and to the Stadium Lille Métropole another lake invites to walking, more common than the others, but it is nonetheless the start of the 6 lakes chain : walking on the bridge that leads to the Lac St Jean...until the Lac du Héron.

History

In 1969, the state decided to create in the Lille Métropole one of the 9 new towns that were scheduled in the Great Plan. The East part of Lille was chosen because of its great agricultural zones and because of the Cité Scientifique that was open in 1965.The City Councils of the 3 towns, that is Ascq, Annappes and Flers decided to merge. The new town was named Villeneueve d'Ascq, in memory of the 86 victims of the 1944 Massacre d'Ascq on april, 1 st. Villeneuve d'Ascq was officially born on February 25th, 1970. Most of its quaters were built around the 3 villages. In 1983 Villeneuve d'Ascq was at its zenith, and gave its' new town' status up.

In 1988 the town chose its logo : a blue sphere for its technological dimension and a green leaf for the environmental respect.

  Figures of Villeneuve d'Ascq

• 65.050 inhabitants

• 180 ha green areas, 120 ha natural zone,

• 1 ha lakes

• 4 European capital cities far from less than 350 km

• 2 universities and 50.000 students

• 11 economic zones, 1 European Scientific Park

• title of "The Most Sportive Town" (Challenge de l'Equipe 1996/1997)

• title of "The Most Handisportive Town in France" in 1999

• Stadium Nord : 22.000 places

• Palacium : sports centre 1.700 places

• 1 swimming complex and 1 swimmingpool

• 2 18-holes golfs

• 1 bowling

• and nearly 150 other sports equipments

• theater Espace Rose des vents

• congress centre MACC

• and numerous other cultural equipments

• a shopping centre with more than 150 shops

• and attractive small shopping centres in every area

Creation of the lakes

Born in the heart of the lower Valley of la Marque, the new town was set up on the last alluvial plain that was liable to flooding. That matter urged the digging of several lakes intended to collect rainwater. The Parc Urbain and the Parc du Héron stuck to these lakes.

Twinning and international relationships

• Stirling in Scotland

• Gatineau ( former Hull) in Quebec

• Tournai (Doornik) in Belgium

• La Possession in the Réuinon Island

• Haïdari in Greece

• Leverkusen in Germany

Good to be known

Not to get lost in the town : every new quarter of Villeneuve d'Ascq gave its initial to the name of every street. So Rue de la Cimaise, rue de la Convension are in the Cousinerie quaarter; Chemin des Tailleurs, rue Talma are in the Triolo quarter.

Le Pass'port pratique

This pocket guide makes the town easier for you. It was conceived to guide you throught the town. It provides any useful phone number and address in the city : cash dispensers, petrol stations, hotels & restaurants and museums. This free guide is available at the Tourist Office and in several public places in the town.

Hotels

ASCOTEL***     

Boulevard Paul Langevin

(33(0)3 20 67 34 34   /  Fax 03 20 91 39 28

83 rooms, 3 for disabled

COMFORT'INN**     

15, allée de la Créativité

(33(0)3 20 47 46 46 / Fax 03 20 91 36 55

80 rooms, one conference room

CAMPANILE**

48, avenue de Canteleu

(33(0)3 20 91 83 10   /  Fax 03 20 67 21 18

46 rooms

IBIS**

rue des Victoires

(33(0)3 20 91 81 50 / Fax 03 20 47 35 23

80 rooms, one conference  room

MORPHEE**

35,rue de la cousinerie

(33(0)3 20 47 17 18 / Fax 03 20 47 14 88

68 rooms, 1 suite, 1 conference room

STARS*   

7,rue de l'Entre Deux Villes

(33(0)3 20 67 07 20 / Fax 03 20 05 27 00

39 rooms, 2 conference rooms

STOP HOTEL

9, boulevard de Mons

(33(0)3 20 79 90 79 / Fax 03 20 79 90 70

75 rooms

FORMULE 1

3, boulevard de Mons

(33(0)8 91 70 54 28 / Fax 03 20 05 15 13

80 rooms

     L'ARDOISE     

124-126, rue Jules Guesde

(33(0)3 20 56 81 27

1 room

BED & BREAKFAST

Chez M. LEPOUTRE

64, avenue de Flandre

(33(0)3 20 72 35 04

"Le Passeport Journée"

Go for a day trip to discover the town through some of its museums...

The Tourism Office put at your disposal a Day Pass for anyone (Individuals, Families and also groups...) who wants to make the discovery of the town.

It allows you to visit 4-3 or 2 Museums

Its means :       - Musée d'art moderne

                         - Forum des Sciences

                         - Asnapio

                         - Musée des Moulins

                         - Musée du Terroir

                           And  to have lunch in one of the 6 partners restaurants...

This Pass is sold at the Tourism Office, at a price of :

22,90 euros(Adults) 16,80 euros (Kids under 10 years old) to visit 4 museums + restaurant

21,30 euros(Adults) 15,20 euros (Kids under 10 years) for 3 museums + restaurant

19.80 euros (Adults) 13,70 euros (Kids under 10 years) for 2 museums + restaurant

The Tourist Office welcomes and informs you to organise you stay. The office is open from Tuesday on till Fridays from 9 am to 12.30 pm and from 14 pm till 18 pm and on Saturdays from 9 am till 12 pm.

château de Flers
chemin du Chat Botté
59650 VILLENEUVE D'ASCQ.
Téléphone : 03 20 43 55 75 /  Fax : 03 20 91 28 28

ot-vdascq@nordnet.fr 

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