Flers-Bourg a name that whispers tales of transformation. This area now part of Villeneuve-d’Ascq was once the main village of Flers-lez-Lille. Today we explore Flers-Bourg. It is a neighborhood shaped by time.
Flers-Bourg’s story begins long before Villeneuve-d’Ascq existed. Before 1970 Flers-lez-Lille included Flers-Bourg. In 1970 Flers-lez-Lille merged with Ascq and Annappes. This created the new city of Villeneuve-d’Ascq.
Flers-Bourg gets its name from being the central village. It was the main part of Flers-lez-Lille. The name distinguished it from Breucq. Breucq was the hamlet to the north.
After 1970 many streets in Flers-Bourg were named starting with the letter F. This was a nod to Flers’ history. Other neighborhoods also used this naming convention.
Flers-Bourg is defined by specific boundaries. To the south it is bordered by Rue de Fives and Lille University 3. The west side is marked by Boulevard de l’Ouest. The northern border is Boulevard de Mons. The east side includes Avenue du Lieutenant Colpin. It extends along Chemin de la Plume d’Ange to the Saint Pierre church. It continues along Rue Jeanne d’Arc and the end of Rue Alexandre Detroy to Rue de Fives.
The EPALE undertook construction projects in Flers-Bourg between 1973 and 1982. In 2010 a square was dedicated to Jean Desmarests. He was a former mayor of Flers-lez-Lille. The square is located behind the Jean Jaurès administrative center in Flers Breucq.
Flers-Bourg boasts several notable sites. The Saint-Pierre church dates back to the 15th century. Its foundations are even older from the 11th century. You can find 19th-century workers’ houses on Rue Chateaubriand. The smallest house in Villeneuve-d’Ascq is at 9 Rue du Maréchal Leclerc. Ferme d’en Haut a former farm was transformed into a “Maison folie” for Lille 2004. The Villeneuve-d’Ascq radio tower also stands here. Nearby is the Château de Flers which dates to the 17th century.
Getting around Flers-Bourg is easy. The Lille metro line 2 stops at Fort de Mons station. Bus lines 13, 32, CO3, and L6 also serve the neighborhood.
Flers-lez-Lille formerly just called Flers was composed of two parts. Flers-Bourg was the village center. Flers-Breucq was its industrial hamlet. In 1936 Flers became Flers-lez-Lille.
The name Flers comes from a common toponym in northern France. It possibly comes from the Germanic word *hlar. This means “marshy land, wasteland or common pasture.” The term “lez” means “near to”. Flers is located near Lille.
Flers was likely part of Gaul at the end of Gaulish independence. Under Roman rule farms appeared. One farm dates to the 2nd century. It was rebuilt in the 3rd century and ruined in the 4th century.
In 1066 Baldwin V of Flanders gave a farm in Flers to Saint-Pierre of Lille. In the 11th century rural work focused on raising livestock in the marshes. Wood was also harvested in Barœul.
In the 15th century the Saint-Pierre church was rebuilt after being burned by Louis XI’s troops. In 1449 Flers had 134 inhabitants. By 1498 the population was 510. In 1505 there were 640 residents.
In 1668 Flers became French through the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. In the early 17th century Flers was part of the Viscountcy of Croix.
In 1774 the king allowed the division of the marshes. These marshes were dried in 1781. In 1790 Jean-Baptiste Bonte became mayor of Flers. His election led to the abolition of many privileges of local lords.
In 1876 the municipal harmony of Flers bourg was created. In 1880 horse-drawn trams reached Flers. The Breucq area relied on the Croix train station. This area became part of the Roubaix satellite cities. The Pasteur school was built in 1883.
During World War I the Germans occupied the region from 1914 until liberation by the British in 1918. By 1914 Flers had 5000 inhabitants. By 1939 it had over 7000. In 1970 Flers became part of Villeneuve-d’Ascq. At that time Flers had 10500 residents. Flers-Bourg a place of history and change invites us to remember its past.