Tourist attractions Villeneuve-d'Ascq

Built between 1887 and 1892, this summer palace was extended in the 1990s by the architects Jean-Marc Ibos et Myrto Vitart to include a narrow 70m x 6.50m building, the glass façade of which reflects the image of the back of the main building. The ga..

Renovated with love, the old town has rediscovered its 17 and 18C facades not long ago covered in disgraceful render. This has led to evidence of the «Lille style» with facades where bricks and sculpted stones are mixed. You'll discover many examples..

The cathedral influenced churches in Tournai and the Escaut Valley, giving birth to Scaldian art. Visitors are impressed by its huge size and the massive outlines of its towers . The nave and transept date from the 12C. The slender 13C Gothic chance..

Extended and modernised, the former Musée d’Art Moderne Lille Métropole now has a new name and twice its original exhibition space. The collection of raw art is now on permanent display, and the Dominique Bozo library, dedicated to modern, contempora..

This was built in 1652-1653 by Julien Destrée at the request of the Lille businessmen who wanted a Stock Exchange to rival that of Holland. It's made out of 24 dormer windowed houses set out around a rectangular courtyard which acted as a centre for ..

Once the "temple of hygiene", these splendid art deco public baths (1927-1932) built by Albert Baert are now the home of the town's artistic and industrial heritage. The bathers of yesteryear have now been replaced with 19C and 20C sculptur..

This portal by Simon Vollant, put up between 1685 and 1692, served as the town gateway (it was part of the ramparts) and arc de triomphe. The arc de triomphe was built in honour of Louis XIV , secured by his Victory at the summit.

This is a beautiful example of a church-hall, on which building started in the 15C. It has five naves, five roofs and five gables. Inside you will see a Christ of pity «Jesus scourged», often covered up with a velvet robe. In the area surrounding the..

Dominated by the old Stock Exchange, the Grand'Garde - the building with the ornamented pediment containing the daily newspaper quotidian La Voix du Nord - this is the lively centre of the town. In the centre Goddess's column symbolises the heroic re..

This wholesale greengrocer's house, built in 1636 is a superb example of Flemish Baroque style. Its lavish decoration contains corner irons and jutting pediments. The house used to contain a gateway onto the River Basse-Deûle which was knocked down i..

Antique dealers and decorators have put a lot into this street which used to play host to a Mint. The left hand side is made up of 18C houses with decorated façades (mortar and alembic and in an old apothecary featuring dolphins, wheat sheaf, palm tr..

These magnificent buildings dating from the 15C to the 18C began life as a hospital, and went on to be used as a hospice and then an orphanage. Once through the monumental sandstone doorway, you come to the Salle des Malades (1470) with its superb ..

Charles de Gaulle was born here on the 22nd of November 1890 in this house where his maternal grandfather had a lace workshop. The studio and the house have been transformed into a museum between them possessing a vast amount of documents and memento..

Having taken Lille, Louis XIV, quickly built a citadel. Vauban handled the plans. 2000 men were given shovels and pickaxes. The site comprises five semi-circular strongholds which are still occupied by the army. The royal gateway leads to the Weapon ..

Housed in the vaulted rooms of the Château de Robersart (built in Renaissance style at the end of the 18C and restored in 1995), this museum contains a superb collection of dolls and toys dating from the mid-19C to the 1960s: model trains, miniature ..

This bridge is a reminder of military architecture. It was part of the second set of ramparts built in the 13C to defend the town entrance from the River Escaut. The next bridge (boulevard Delwart) offers a fine view of the rounded sides of its tow..

This museum, built in 1928, was designed by the famous Art Nouveau architect Victor Horta whose star-shaped plan has radiating rooms converging on the Sculpture Hall. It houses works from the 15C to the present day, including old masters, 19C and 2..

Belgium's oldest belfry has 12C foundations. The base was reinforced by polygonal turrets in 1294 and the upper sections were rebuilt after a fire, a century later. Until 1817, several of the rooms were used as jails. The first floor offers a fine v..

A Flemish castle (1661) surrounded by moats, which is now the Tourist Office and a small archaeological museum which offers temporary exhibitions.

Enjoy sailing, windsurfing and other nautical activities at the lake, hiking and jogging in the park, as well as golf, pony rides and even drama classes at the Petitprez farm. The Le Héron farm is perfect for a family visit.