Can you imagine that Les Près was once just wet meadows? This area now blends modern life with historical whispers. Today we’re standing in Les Près a unique neighborhood in Villeneuve-d’Ascq. Its history stretches back to the 14th century.
Les Près owes its name to an old fiefdom. It included a castle and a farm called “la cense des Près”. A chapel also stood here. For centuries Les Près remained a collection of wet prairies.
Fast forward to 1977. A municipal plan aimed to create a harmonious neighborhood. The result is what you see now in Les Près. It mixes modern business areas with traditional houses.
Look around at the architecture. Some facades boast trompe-l’oeil paintings by Carnavaggio. A street perspective draws inspiration from 17th-century Dutch paintings. Les Près offers a pleasant urban landscape.
You can also find traces of ancient Gaulish settlements in Les Près. Visit the archéoparc du Héron to discover more. Objects found here are displayed at the Château de Flers.
Les Près is also home to significant public facilities. The regional Gendarmerie houses around 450 officers and their families. The Centre Régional d’Informations Routières also operates here.
The Parc Club des Près adds a verdant touch. Its particularly green and floral environment enhances the neighborhood. Also this area has some “computerized houses”.
Getting here is easy too. Les Près Edgard Pisani station is served by bus lines 13 and 32. Metro line M2 also stops here. The nearest bus stop is Gendarmerie an eight-minute walk away. The Jean Jaurès metro station is about a 15-minute walk.
Les Près offers a blend of history modern living and unexpected artistic touches. From its humble beginnings as wet meadows to its current status as a dynamic neighborhood Les Près tells a story of thoughtful development. As you wander through Les Près, remember its evolution. It is a testament to Villeneuve-d’Ascq’s commitment to creating unique and livable spaces.