Sightseeing OverviewLille is divided in two by the boulevard de la Liberté: to the
north of the boulevard, which runs southeast by northwest, is charming
Vieux Lille (the old town), nestled within the city’s former
fortifications. It is a picturesque mixture of
narrow streets and
cobbled squares lined with
chic boutiques, and cosy
cafés and
restaurants. To the
south is the
new town, not quite as picturesque as Vieux Lille, with its
wide streets.
The old city’s points of interest
include the 1652 Flemish styled
Vieille Bourse (the textile exchange), near the
place du Général de Gaulle (aka Grand’Place), the heart of the city; the old hospital
Hospice Comtesse on the rue de la Monnaie; the
Opera House; the
Cathedral, and for shopping,
rue Basse,
rue de la Grande Monnaie, and
rue de la Clef. Heading south, on the place de la République, the
Musée des Beaux-Arts is another must see:
one of the best museums in France, it houses a collection of 15th through 20th century paintings. Nearby, and worth a look too, is the
Maison Coilliot, 24 rue de Fleurus, a beautiful example of
art nouveau architecture.
To the west, the
Citadel, now a military school, was reconstructed between 1667 and 1670 by the highly talented military architect Sébastien Le Prestre, Marquis de
Vauban; and to the east, just by Lille Europe station, is the
Euralille shopping complex.
Tourist InformationOffice du Tourisme de Lille Palais Rihour, Place Rihour
Tel: (03) 5957 9400
or 0891 562 004.
Website:
www.lilletourism.comOpening hours: Daily 0930-1830, except Sun and public holidays (1000-1200 and 1400-1700).
Check out also
www.destination-lille-metropolis.eu for information on the Greater Lille area.
PassesPass Libre Accès (Free Access Pass) gives free access to over 30 sites in Lille and the region, as well as free transport in the city (website:
www.lilletourism.com/uk/guided-visits-individuals.htm). The pass is available for one, two or three days and can be purchased online, at the tourist office or in some hotels (see online for details).
Key Attractions:Palais des Beaux-Arts (Fine Arts Museum) Widely acclaimed as France’s second best museum after
Le Louvre, the
Palais des Beaux Arts, housed in a Belle Epoque palace right in the city center, has been attracting great crowds after an extensive and lengthy renovation. The impressive collection, which includes paintings by many such as Donatello, Raphael, Rubens, Van Dyck, Rembrandt, El Greco, David and Toulouse-Lautrec, is now even better displayed, and makes for a truly delightful visit.
Place de la République
Tel: (03) 2006 7800.
Website:
www.mairie-lille.fr or www.musenor.com La Vieille Ville (The Old Town) Cobblestoned streets and superb old Flemish town houses (now home to exclusive boutiques) make for a pleasant stroll in a part of Lille that has barely changed in centuries. Particularly lively on Sundays, when the market takes place. Sit at a café and watch life go by. The cathedral, nearby, has a modern façade and gothic interiors. The impressive stations of the cross inside are by Brazilian painter Sergio Ferro.
Center Commercial Euralille (Euralille Shopping Center) Inaugurated in 1994, this complex, built between the Eurostar and Lille Flandres stations by famous town planner Rem Koolhaas, is well worth checking out. It includes over 120 shops, several restaurants and a hypermarket over two levels.
Between Lille Europe and Lille Flandres stations
Tel: (03) 2014 5220.
Website:
www.euralille.comPlace Général de Gaulle (aka Grand’ Place) Lille’s main square is now an attractive pedestrian area overlooked by the
Voix du Nord building (home of the North’s leading newspaper, once the journal of the French Resistance in World War II).
La Vieille Bourse (the Old Exchange), a center where Flemish merchants traded their famous high-quality cloth, is on the left. The Column commemorates the siege of Lille by the Austrians in 1792.
Maison Natale Charles de Gaulle (Général de Gaulle Birthplace and Museum) Lille’s most famous son, the Général de Gaulle, rose to fame as leader of the Free French forces whilst in exile in London during World War II. After a period in the political wilderness, he became President of France in the 1950s - when he brought stability to a divided country which was struggling to adjust to the postwar situation, particularly whether to give independence to France’s north African colony of Algeria. Visit the house where he was born on November 22, 1890.
9 rue Princesse
Tel: (03) 2838 1205.
Website:
www.maison-natale-de-gaulle.comFurther Distractions:Musée de l’Hospice Comtesse (Hospice Comtess Museum) This hospice, founded in 1237 by the Countess of Flanders, Jeanne de Constantinople, is one of the oldest buildings in Lille’s characterful Old Town. It is home to a fine collection of gold, silver and earthenware objects, tapestries of Guillaume Werniers, paintings by the Watteau brothers, and several classic Flemish works.
32 rue de la Monnaie
Tel: (03) 2836 8400.
Website:
www.mairie-lille.fr or www.musenor.com Parc Zoologique de Lille (Lille Zoo)A good one for those traveling with children. The zoo, near the Citadelle Vauban, houses over 100 species of animals, ranging from birds (owls, parrots, etc) to big mammals such as rhinos, snow panthers, zebras, llamas and monkeys. Snakes, bats, tortoises and tiny monkeys such as ouistitis and tamarins can be seen in the tropical house. Open daily, and free.
Parc de Loisirs de la Citadelle
Tel: (03) 2852 0700.
Website:
www.zoolille.com Musée d’Histoire Naturelle (Natural History Museum)Colorful exhibits from across the continents, including two enormous whale skeletons, and a large collection of birds and mammals.
19 rue de Bruxelles
Tel: (03) 2855 3080.
Website:
www.mairie-lille.fr or www.musenor.com
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Related Lille Content
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
Related France Content
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
France Airport Guides:
|
France City Guides:
|
| France Attraction Guides: |
|
|
Available Tours to France:
-
iExplore France: Burgundy Experience -
$6695,
6 days
-
iExplore France: Normandy & Loire Valley Experience -
$6795,
7 days
-
iExplore France: Provence Experience -
$6195,
8 days
-
iExplore London and Paris Experience -
$4975,
7 days
-
iExplore Paris Extension -
$3025,
4 days
-
iExplore Trekking Mt. Blanc -
$9995,
12 days
-
Chamonix Valley Adventure - France Family Holiday -
$1230,
8 days
-
Cycling Cognac -
$1290,
8 days
-
Cycling in Burgundy -
$1359,
8 days
-
Hiking in Provence -
$1410,
8 days
-
Loire Valley Cycling -
$1200,
8 days
-
Mont Blanc Circuit -
$1890,
15 days
-
Mont Blanc Highlights -
$1380,
8 days
-
Mont Blanc Hotel Trek -
$2840,
15 days
-
Mont Blanc Winter Activity Week -
$1800,
8 days
-
Tour Du Mont Blanc -
$1400,
8 days
|
