Ascq

Ascq (Ask) is a former commune on the Marque river in the Nord department in northern France, at seven kilometers from Belgium. Agricultural village until the Industrial Revolution, the former independent commune merged with others to become a district of the new town planned community of Villeneuve-d'Ascq since 1970. The operatic bass Louis-Henri Obin (1820–1895) was born in Ascq.

Ascq is known for the Ascq massacre of 1 April 1944, where the Nazis assaulted the inhabitants and massacred 86 innocent men. The village was decorated with the Croix de guerre 1939–1945 and the Legion of Honour.

The Gare d'Ascq (railway station) is served by trains from Lille to Liège (Belgium) and to Orchies.

Architecture and points of interest
Ascq main monuments are Saint-Pierre-en-Antioche Church (19th century), based on a building of 15th century, gare d'Ascq (19th century) railway station, the post office, the town hall (20th century) and the Château Claeys (20th century).

In the middle of the 20th century, Ascq had a cinéma, 'Le Rex', located salle Potié, church square.

Transportation

 * Ascq is served by a rail network of three lines Lille-Tournai, Lille-Liège et Lille-Orchies of SNCF and SNCB with the Gare d'Ascq railway station.
 * The quarter is served by Transpole with the following bus lines : 43, 47, 305, 314, 330, 331, 332.