{{Short description|Village in Nord, France}} thumb|Ascq train station '''Ascq''' ({{IPA|fr|ask|-|LL-Q150 (fra)-Jérémy-Günther-Heinz Jähnick-Ascq.wav}}; {{langx|pcd|Ask}}) is a former commune on the Marque river in the Nord department in northern France, 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.<ref>[https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/jo/id/JORFCONT000000020155 Modifications aux circonscriptions territoriales des communes.], ''Journal officiel de la République française'' n° 0070, 24 March 1970, p. 2793.</ref> 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.
==Heraldry== {{Blazon-arms | img1=Blason Ascq 59.svg | legend1=Arms of Ascq | text=The arms of Ascq are blazoned :<br />''Or, a fess azure, overall a saltire gules.'' }}
== 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).
<gallery> Image:Jielbeaumadier ascq eglise.jpg|Saint-Pierre-en-Antioche Church Image:Jielbeaumadier_ascq_place_gare_2008.jpg|Post office and railway station square Image:Jielbeaumadier_claeys_jardin_2006.jpg|Château Claeys Image:Jielbeaumadier_mairie_ascq_2005.jpg|Ascq town hall </gallery>
Numerous places are commemorating the world wars : Tertre des massacrés monument, mémorial Ascq 1944 museum, Ascq Communal Cemetery which shelters British and Commonwealth war graves as well as the bodies of the victims of Ascq massacre in 1944, a monument on Saint-Pierre-en-Antioche Church square and some street names, such as 'Rue des Martyrs'.
<gallery> Image:Jielbeaumadier tertre des massacres 2006.jpg|Tertre des massacrés Image:Jielbeaumadier memorial ascq 2006.jpg|Mémorial Ascq 1944 Image:Tombes massacre ascq 2009 lb.jpg|Ascq massacre victims graves, Ascq Communal Cemetery Image:Tombes commonwealth ascq 2009 lb.jpg|British and Commonwealth war graves, Ascq Communal Cemetery </gallery>
Other notable buildings are Ascq water tower (20th century) which can be perceived very far away, Arthur Rimbaud collège, the old distillery with its brick chimney, chocolate factory Bouquet d'Or, artisanal brewery Moulins d'Ascq, the old gristmills. Many houses have a remarkable architectural style, such as 1930 seaside style houses in Kléber street.
<gallery> Image:Jielbeaumadier chateau deau ascq 2006.jpg|Ascq water tower Image:Minoterie rue des fusilles ascq 2006.jpg|Gristmill in Fusillés street </gallery>
In the middle of the 20th century, Ascq had a cinéma, 'Le Rex', located salle Potié, church square.<ref>''Le Rex de Villeneuve-d'Ascq'', https://cinemasdunord.blogspot.com/2009/08/le-rex-de-villeneuve-dascq.html</ref>
== Transportation == * Ascq is served by a rail network of three lines, Lille-Tournai, Lille-Liège and Lille-Orchies of the SNCF and SNCB through the Gare d'Ascq railway station. * The quarter is served by Transpole with the following bus lines: 43, 47, 305, 314, 330, 331, and 332.
==See also== *Communes of the Nord department
==References== <references/>
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Category:Villeneuve-d'Ascq Category:Former communes of Nord (French department)