Anstaing is a rural village surrounded by fields and woods whose church, built just outside the village, bears the name of Saint Laurent in memory of the martyr burnt alive in 258 for having dared to challenge the authority of Rome. The apse of the church bears the names of Alain de Lille (12th century), philosopher and theologian and Jean d'Anstaing who worked with Saint Dominique, the chaplain of the Countess of Flanders. The water in the fountain of the same name located in the village square is supposed to help against burns and eczema.
Bondues
Bondues was first spoken about in the 10th century. The village, called "Bunoz" and then "bonous", and finally Bondues in 1176 still bears the traces of a more distant past (remains of Roman pottery, traces of forts built in the 5th and 9th centuries to fight against the barbarian invaders…) Numerous key events have marked its history such as the 68 members of the Resistance executed in a courtyard of Fort Lobau before being buried in a mass grave. A memorial built in 1965, la Cour sacrée (the sacred courtyard) and a statue of Dodeigne built in 1986 all ensure they will not be forgotten, while the Resistance Museum, opened in 1997, pays tribute to the bravery of the men and women who worked for the Resistance. Nearby, the Château du Vert Bois built in 1666 stands close to the Anne and Albert Prouvost Foundation which is home to collections of contemporary works, a craftsmen’s village, a flea market …
Beaucamps Ligny
This village, located in the middle of the flat, open country around Weppes, was the result of two villages, Ligny and Beaucamps, joining together. Legend has it that Saint Thomas Becket, the archbishop of Canterbury, stayed here when he fled England as a result of being persecuted by the King of England, in 1164. In the 16th century, the lord’s domain belonged to Lalaing, in the House of Oignies in the 17th century and Madame of Flanders, in 1789. Beaucamps and Ligny were reunited on 10 November 1927.
Armentières
Armentières, built on the banks of the River Lys, has been famous for cloth since the 11th century. The town was successively under the rule of the counts of Flanders, the dukes of Burgundy, the House of Austria and the House of Spain before becoming a lasting part of France in 1668 through the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. This town was held by the English during the First World War and was almost completely destroyed. The famous song "Mademoiselle from Armentières" dates back to this period. The architect Louis-Marie Cordonnier was commissioned to design the new town and was responsible for various buildings including the new Town Hall, designed in a Flemish Renaissance style with interior stained-glass windows and belfry, whose chimes relay the air of La Madelon. He also designed Saint-Vaast church which displays the Roman/Byzantine style. Armentières is a town with many facets featuring a sports and recreation park that is home to one of the biggest sailing schools in France. A beer museum is currently being built in an old brewery.
Baisieux
Baisieux is located on the French-Belgian border close to the old marshland, hence its name as Baix', means : lowland. Legend has it that in 1214 the money to pay the mercenaries fighting in the Battle of Bouvines was lost nearby. The town first appeared in official records in the 11th century, the village started out life as a mere outbuilding of Cysoing Abbey which, in 860 built a church. Due to its location, Baisieux suffered as a result of a series of tragic events : occupations ( barbarians, Norman, Spanish), wars of the Kings of France and battles of the Revolution., baisieux
