Lille, France — Activities
Lille Culture
Music and Dance
Aéronef
Lille has always been a city of music and dance lovers. Rock music, jazz and new music have their temple at the Aéronef and its distribution circuit, made up of about 30 cafés that organize concerts. The Aéronef is located in the high-tech Euralille area, adjacent to the shopping center.
168 avenue Willy Brandt
Tel: (03) 2013 5000.
Website: www.aeronef-spectacles.com
Opera de Lille
The Lille Opera offers a varied lyric program, ranging from the baroque period to the creations of contemporary composers, as well as major masterpieces. Modern dance also plays a leading role: the programming explores today's major aesthetic directions, put into perspective with the presentation of founding works.
2 rue des Bons Enfants
Tel: (03) 2838 4050 or 0820 489 000 for tickets.
Website: www.opera-lille.fr
Orchestre National de Lille
The Lille National Orchestra has developed a genuine and ambitious artistic program of contemporary operas, providing opportunities for young talent and introducing the world of opera to a young audience. The Orchestra, one of the best in France, is accommodated in the Nouveau Siècle, a Music Hall which also plays host to prestigious classical music groups, cultural activities and educational projects.
3 place Mendès France
Tel: (03) 2012 8240.
Website: www.onlille.com
Sébastopol Theater
Big concerts, opera and comedy are held at the Sébastopol Theater, an ideal 19th-century architectural showcase which has a program on almost every day and is a must for operetta lovers in particular.
Place Sébastopol
Tel: (03) 2054 4450.
Website: www.theater-sebastopol.fr
Theater
Grand Bleu
Grand Bleu is a drama center for young audiences, with a particular emphasis on new styles, hip hop and contemporary dance. The shows organized in this center, which can accommodate up to 320 people, cater for both young children and teenagers.
36 avenue Marx Dormoy
Tel: (03) 2009 4550.
Website: www.legrandbleu.com
Théâtre du Nord
Benefiting from National Drama Center status, the Théâtre du Nord operates in two cities in Northern France: Tourcoing and Lille, where it stages plays in the Théâtre Roger Salengro located on the Grand' Place.
4 Place du Général de Gaulle
Tel: (03) 2014 2424.
Website: www.theaterdunord.fr
Lille Tours
Walking tours
The tourist office organizes a daily guided walk in the Vieux Lille (Old Town). Or take a self-guided tour of the city with Allo Visit, which provides audio commentary direct to your mobile. There are seven stages of about three minutes, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. MP3 downloadable audio tours (www.zevisit.com) are also available, free of charge.
Allo Visit
Tel: (01) 7293 9505, code 008 000 for Lille.
Office du Tourisme de Lille
Tel: (03) 5957 9400.
Website: www.lilletourism.com
Bus tours
The tourist office also runs a 50-minute minibus tour of the city, taking in the Old Stock Exchange, the Opera, the Comtesse Hospice, the Charles de Gaulle Museum, the Petit Quinquin, the Paris Gate and the Citadel (the old part of central Lille).
Tel: (03) 5957 9400.
Website: www.lilletourism.com
Other tours
On Saturday, the tourist office organizes tours on segway, an original and ecological way to discover the city. The focus is on green spaces and monuments.
Tel: (03) 5957 9400.
Website: www.lilletourism.com
