Cousinerie

Was Cousinerie always a vibrant neighborhood? Picture this: Before the modern buildings stood an ancient fief. Its name Cousinerie or perhaps Coisnerie or even Consignerie shifted through time. This area once lay divided between Flers to the west and Annappes to the east. It wasn’t always part of Villeneuve-d’Ascq. The Cousinerie we see today is relatively young. Its creation began in 1975. It wasn’t a sudden eruption. It grew gradually. Development continued well into the 1980s. Imagine the transformation. Fields and perhaps the remnants of the old fief gave way to houses and streets. A significant event was the opening of the Albert Camus school in September 1978. This marked the beginning of a community. By the end of 1978 Cousinerie expanded southward. Its central area took its final form by the end of 1979. 1981 brought the first shops. The city’s art scene played a role too. The Musée d’art moderne de Villeneuve d’Ascq opened in May 1983. Jack Lang the Minister of Culture inaugurated it. Later the Place Jean Moulin the heart of Cousinerie centre opened. Then came the construction of the Camille Claudel college. The construction of the neighborhood ended in 1986. But the story doesn’t end there. The ABA Camus center opened in December 1986. Francis Perrin attended the opening. This center is a vital part of Cousinerie. It was considered the best autism treatment facility in France at its inception. The museum reopened in a new form the LaM in 1997 after renovations and expansion. Today Cousinerie is a bustling part of Villeneuve-d’Ascq. It boasts several notable sites including churches and the Heron Park its green heart. Its history isn’t just about buildings. It’s about a community growing from an ancient fief into a vibrant neighborhood. Its story is one of schools shops museums and a center dedicated to helping children with autism. It’s a neighborhood that has changed much yet retained something of its history.