Tourcoing

Tourcoing enjoys an exceptional location. Located in the heart of Lille, which has more than 1.8 million people with his Belgian side, the city is the fourth in the Nord / Pas-de-Calais in terms of population.
Rich in textile industrial past and forward the mail, Tourcoing now investing in growth sectors such as graphic and audiovisual. They create a real synergy around traditional sectors and allow Tourcoing of the breakthrough of the 21st century: the Union area, located on the territories of Tourcoing and Roubaix is one step closer to the economic conversion.
History:

The first mention some of Tourcoing back to 1080. The first lord of Tourcoing Baldwin is the second of Ghent-Aalst. By this time, there is a castle not a castle, but a house, with moats, towers and walls.
The land of Tourcoing sold in 1294 to the first William of Mortagne.
The Hundred Years War and the Great Plague are particularly difficult time to move people. Then the lordship of Tourcoing is sold in 1485 to Baldwin de Lannoy: its Free Fair in the city attracts merchants from all sources. Tourcoing is a large village of about 3000 inhabitants and is beginning to develop which will make it an international center of textile production.
From the return of peace, Tourcoing starts to manufacture fabrics and in 1668 it became French: a border appears. The streets are paved and the Market is dominated by three monuments: the feudal castle, the church of St Christopher and the City Hall.
The year 1789 marks the birth of the Northern Department. Combing wool is then the great specialty workers Tourcoing.
In 1842, we inaugurated the railway: the population grows, the city has textile mills, dye works, factories and shops.
In 1865, more than 35,500 people work in textiles.
A new City Hall is completed and Les Halles replace the old castle.
Major projects were launched: Boulevard Gambetta to Roubaix, Grand Boulevard to Lille, ring roads and Equal ...
In 1877, streetcars appear.
In 1906, opens the International Exhibition of Textile Industries.
During the two world wars, the city was largely destroyed and must be rebuilt. Gradually, plants that appear are both spinning and weaving as well as companies that produce hosiery, socks, sweaters, and underwear.
In 1960, still has 174 Tourcoing combing and spinning. But in 20 years, 160 textile companies disappear. Major operations are completed as the Mercury Centre, Burgundy, the Centre de Gaulle and Dron Hospital opened in 1986.
Today Tourcoing provides an important role in the cultural life of Lille. Tourquennoises industries, despite the textile crisis, trying to secure their future with a dynamism that they have never failed over the centuries.

The Hospice of Havre: The site hosts exhibitions, workshops, readings, performances and accented with landscaped gardens on the theme of water, medicinal plants and dye.
The Muba Eugene Leroy: Housed in a former mansion of the 19th century, the museum asked the place of experimentation as a dialogue between the work and, by confrontations stylistic and thematic, contemporary art and the art of previous centuries, but also the performing arts and visual arts, and renewed regularly hanging. The Museum of Fine Arts in 2009 Tourcoing received a remarkable donation of over 500 works of Eugene Leroy and becomes the reference of the painter, an exhibition of his works, of access to archives, finally, a center of scientific research, artistic and historical fully dedicated to the artist.
Le Fresnoy: Former leisure complex, the Fresnoy, redesigned by Bernard Tschumi (Architecture National Award for this achievement), is a school of art audiovisual training high-level offers large exhibitions, film programming, concerts, shows.
Nadar Gallery: Established in 1988, the gallery of renowned photographers regionally, nationally and internationally.
Guy Chatiliez Gallery: City Gallery of Contemporary Art, the gallery Chatiliez develops a program of exhibitions, residencies and mediation activities. Next exhibitions are set up visits, workshops and projects to "long term" in partnership with educational facilities, cultural and socio-professional.
The Museum June 5, 1944: This is the bunker of the Avenue of the Marne the Germans captèrent the message announcing the Allied landing in Normandy. The museum is dedicated to war and radio waves. Annual exhibitions.
The Museum Carillon: The art of the carillon is more than tercentenary in Tourcoing. The church houses the St. Kitts fourth largest carillon in France: 62 bells with a drone over 6 tons.
The Church of Saint Christopher: From its 87 meters and built between the 13th and 19th centuries, the Church of St. Christopher is one of the finest neo-Gothic buildings of the region. Included in the Inventory of Historical Monuments.
The Botanical Garden: Charming and quiet, it brings great beeches, old wisteria, old roses, many, many shade plants and a small museum on fruits and vegetables. To respond to a site traffic more and more important, the garden is equipped with new teaching greenhouses on a surface of 1200 m².
The Tourist Office offers many tours in the summer for individuals.

Information points	Tourist Office of Tourcoing
Leisure centres	Museum of Fine Art of Tourcoing
Performance halls	Auditorium of the Conservatoire Hospice d'Havré Le Grand Mix Magic Mirror Municipal Theatre - Raymond Devos Theatre of L'Idéal
Transport	Metro station Bourgogne Metro station Carliers Metro station CH Dron Metro station Colbert Metro station Mercure Metro station Phalempins Metro station Pont de Neuville Metro station Tourcoing - Centre Metro station Tourcoing - Sébastopol Train station of Anor Train station of Haubourdin Train station of Phalempin Train station of Tourcoing

Giants Parade and Music Festival street in March.
Happy Festival Streets, arts in the street in May.
Voice of Rock Festival: in June.
Tourcoing Beach in July.
The night exploding: in October.
Tourcoing Jazz Festival in October.
The Fairy Village: in December.

The Ball Gang: Intergenerational Workshop

On 28 may 2025
26 rue Famelart
For adults and children aged 8 and over, beginners or advanced, come and share these convivial moments with us every Wednesday from 4pm to 6pm !

The Little Music Boxes

On 28 may 2025
285 boulevard Descat
More hits ! More hits ! The best of Les Petites boîtes à musique !

Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Nord

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Tourcoing

Tourcoing

Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Nord

Additional informationTourcoing

Things to see and do

Places of interest

Events and festivities

Photos

Visits, leisure and activities nearby

Restaurants

Bed & breakfasts

Vacation rentals

Campsites

Hotels

Related articlesTourcoing

Additional information
Tourcoing

Related articles
Tourcoing