Sprawling east of Lille, Villeneuve d’Ascq is a residential commune in the Hauts-de-France region. It has been nicknamed the “Green Technopole” due to its leafy surroundings and abundance of research institutions and companies. Many of these are clustered in the Haute Borne European scientific park.
Things to do in Villeneuve-d'Ascq
Modern and contemporary artworks are the focus of the LaM, which occupies a building designed by Roland Simounet on the northern edge of Parc du Heron. This impressive museum houses masterpieces by Joan Miro, Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, as well as the largest collection of Outsider Art in France.
After your visit, you can stretch your legs on the leafy walking trails of Parc du Heron, which centres around a large fishing lake. It is designated as a nature reserve to protect its resident fauna and flora and is home to a historic hunting lodge and a farm. On its eastern edge is the Archaeological Park Asnapio where you can see reconstructed living environments from the Upper Paleolithic to the Middle Ages.
South of Parc du Heron is the Musee du Terroir, which explores rural life in Hauts-de-France during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It occupies a traditional 18th-century farmhouse, where you’ll find a reconstructed period kitchen, a clog workshop and a tavern. Don’t miss Musee des Moulins, which details the cultural importance of mills in times gone by.
Getting around Villeneuve-d'Ascq
Villeneuve d’Ascq is around 15 minutes' drive from the centre of Lille and 10 minutes from Lille Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Trains connect to the Pont de Bois and Annappes railway stations while subway services stop at Villeneuve-d'Ascq - Hôtel de Ville. Buses also travel throughout the commune.