- Geographic location :
- The city of Leers is located in the heart of Roubaix town, about 17 km from Lille. Its access to this great city is quickly through the Southern Roubaix antenna, then the Urban Fast Track (VRU). The town is part of the Canton de Lannoy and 7th constituency. Leers is bordered by Wattrelos (North), Toufflers (south), Roubaix, and Lys-lez-Lannoy (in the West). Border with Belgium, she is close with Leers North and Néchin.
- Since 2008, Leers Eurométropole is part of the Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai with 146 French and other Belgian cities. Dotted with greenery with Park Butte, agricultural land but also squares and green spaces adjacent to residences, Leers enjoys on its territory the presence of a stream, the Roubaix canal reopened to navigation since 2011 and whose banks have been completely refurbished.
- History Abstract:
- 1106: First official mention made in the city of Leers: this is the cartulary of the Abbey Hasnon. Sicher The Lord gives the right altar (right to install a religious building on his land) to Albert Hasnon.
- 1297: Philip IV (1285-1314), King of France, came to war in Flanders, up a garrison at the castle of Royère. It is taken up by the Flemish in 1302.
- August 1566: As part of the religious wars, the Protestant troops burned the church of Leers. Its gradual restoration will last until 1650.
- 1656: The bishop of Tournai, Francois Ghent Leers comes to spend two altars dedicated to the Virgin and St. Vaast.
- 1668: Louis XIV conquered the Walloon Flanders, including Lille and Leers.
- 1678: The Treaty of Nijmegen (Netherlands) confirms these acquisitions and ended the war with Spain. Leers is officially under French persuasion.
- May 16, 1769: Signing of the Treaty of Limits, which states that the entire territory of Leers belongs to the kingdom of France, causing discontent among populations.
- June 3, 1780: The knight comes to Calonne Leers to inform people sharing Leers into two separate territories: Leers North, attached to Tournai, and South Leers dependent châtellenie Lille.
- 1843: Inauguration of the Roubaix canal linking the Belgian border in Roubaix and at the same time the Coulont bridge, now called Grimonpont.
- October 1918: The English colonel Cowley frees the town from German occupation.
- 1973: 76% of Leersois approve by referendum the restoration of the mill white (1851). It will be inaugurated in 1976.
- 5 September 1976: Twin mills with the municipality of Coquelles.
- June 15, 1980: Signing of the Twinning Charter with the German city Jüchen.
- September 14, 1986: Signing of the Twinning Charter with the entity of Estaimpuis (Belgium).
- September 29, 2002: Signing of the Twinning Charter with the town of Coquelles (Pas-de-Calais).
- Leersoises Traditions:
- The game bourles to étaque.
- The jet shuttle during celebrations of the Moulin.
- The Rise firing the guns on the morning of 14 July.
- The festival of Allumoirs late September.
- Gastronomic specialties:
- The Leersoise, original beer.
- The leersoise Shuttle, pastry cream and chocolate chips, sold during the celebrations of the Moulin.
- The small Leersois, pressed cheese made from raw cow milk.
