Portrait of Villeneuve d'Ascq
Created at the end of the 1960s by the French government, the new town of Lille-Est was designed to provide an urban setting for universities and to accommodate the population of the Lille metropolitan area.
Villeneuve d'Ascq was born of the 1970 merger of the three communes of Annappes, Ascq and Flers. Its motto, "Tres in uno", derives from this union.
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The origin of the town's name
On Palm Sunday night, April 1 to 2, 1944, the people of Ascq were awakened by a detonation. It was the longest night in Ascq's history. 86 men aged between 15 and 74 were massacred by the men of the 12th SS-Panzer Division Hitlerjugend in reprisal for an act of sabotage carried out by the "Ascq group" belonging to the Voix du Nord movement, sabotage which was in fact aimed at a German freight train.
To perpetuate the memory of those massacred, the people of Ascq erected a monumental ensemble on the site of the tragedy, inaugurated in 1955. In 1970, when the communes of Ascq, Annappes and Flers merged, the name Villeneuve d'Ascq was chosen in place of Villeneuve-en-Flandre, so as never to forget the tragic fate of the victims. -
A city of nature and nourishment
Villeneuve d'Ascq, a city on the move, offers a setting that is both urban and green, with its lakes (70 ha) and parks (45 ha for the urban park, 110 ha for the Parc du Héron).
These specific features have earned Villeneuve d'Ascq recognition as the "green technopole" of the Lille European Metropolis (MEL), symbolized by its logo (a sphere and a leaf).
Today, the town maintains a dynamic approach to sustainable development, facing up to the social, economic and environmental challenges of the 21st century, thanks in particular to its municipal services.Voted Best Community for Biodiversity 2023 in the category of communities with fewer than 100,000 inhabitants, the city is committed to meeting the challenge of ecological transition through its concept of a natural and nurturing city.
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Sport
Sport for all is Villeneuve d'Ascq's credo: in addition to green spaces ideal for running, walking or cycling (urban park, Parc du Héron), there are numerous sports facilities and Villeneuve's sports clubs offer a wide range of activities for everyone, amateurs and professionals alike.
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Villeneuve d'Ascq in short
Villeneuve d'Ascq in short
To find out more about the town's history: https://www.villeneuvedascq.fr/portrait-de-villeneuve-dascq
Interactive tourist map
Click on the pictograms on the map to display information about the location or structure.
Walking tours
The Tourist Office and the town offer 5 walks to help you (re)discover the town and the diversity of its neighborhoods.
Discover the walks