Free Institution of Sacred Heart
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The free Institution of Sacred Heart ("Institution Libre du Sacré-Coeur", in french) is the oldest and most prestigious school of Tourcoing, next to Lille in the North of France. This Institution has been created in 1666 by Fathers Récollets (a catholic congregation), with the help of Philipp IV, King of Spain, Ferdinand de Croÿ, Duke of Havré and Lord of Tourcoing, and Jean Villain de Gand, bishop of Tournai. The school was named before the French Revolution "le Collège Saint-Bonaventure"
During the French Revolution, the college was closed from 1790 to 1802, when the First Consul, Napoléon Bonaparte, allowed the Fathers Récollets to come back Tourcoing.
The college built news buildings in gothic architecture in 1853. Since this date, he is installed at 111, Lillestreet. The Institution and his classrooms are still today in this place.
After several argues between the director of the college, bishop Henri-Jean Leblanc, and the city of Tourcoing, about the nominations for teachers' jobs, the school stop to be finance by the City and become Free Institution of Sacred Heart the 16 october 1882.
During the World War I, german soldiers arrested the director, the chanoine Leleu, because he protected his studients against the requisitions.
Actually, the Free Institution of Sacred Heart stills to be considered that one of the best college of Lille's area.
