Lille, France — Where to Go
Lille Sightseeing Overview
Lille has had a stormy history (it has been besieged no fewer than 11 times). The town, whose name is derived from the French l'île (the island), named because it was situated on an island in the Deûle River, started life as a small village founded by the Flemish around 1030.
The capital of Flanders during the Middle Ages, Lille was given to France in 1312. Subsequently, it fell into various hands (including Austrian and Spanish ones), before being reclaimed, in 1667, by Louis XIV, who made it a showcase of French power and glory. Lille was later both damaged and occupied by the Germans in both World Wars.
Today, Lille is divided in two by the boulevard de la Liberté: to the north of the boulevard is charming Vieux Lille (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 with its wide streets.
The old city's attractions include the 1652 Flemish styled Vieille Bourse (the textile exchange), near the place du Général de Gaulle (aka Grand' Place) in 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.
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, an art nouveau gem.
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.
Lille Tourist Information
Office du Tourisme de Lille
Palais Rihour, Place Rihour
Tel: (03) 5957 9400.
Website: www.lilletourism.com
Lille Sightseeing
The 'City Pass Lille Métropole' gives free access to over 30 sites in Lille and the region, as well as free transport in the city. The pass is available for one, two or three days and can be purchased online (www.lilletourism.com), at the tourist office or in some hotels.
Lille Sightseeing
The 'City Pass Lille Métropole' gives free access to over 30 sites in Lille and the region, as well as free transport in the city. The pass is available for one, two or three days and can be purchased online (www.lilletourism.com), at the tourist office or in some hotels.
Key Attractions in Lille, France
La Vieille Ville (Old Town)
Cobblestoned streets and old Flemish town houses (now home to exclusive boutiques) make for a pleasant stroll in a part of Lille 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 facade and gothic interiors.
Maison Natale Charles de Gaulle
Lille's most famous son, the Général de Gaulle, rose to fame as leader of the Free French forces in exile in London during WWII. 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. Visit the house where he was born in 1890, now a museum.
9 rue Princesse
Tel: (03) 2838 1205.
Website: www.maison-natale-de-gaulle.org
Opening hours: Wed-Thurs 1000-1800, Sun 1330-1730.
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
Palais des Beaux-Arts (Fine Arts Museum)
Widely acclaimed as France's second best museum after Le Louvre, the Palais des Beaux Arts, is housed in a Belle Epoque palace right in the city center. The impressive collection includes paintings by many such as Donatello, Raphael, Rubens, Van Dyck, Rembrandt, El Greco, David and Toulouse-Lautrec.
Place de la République
Tel: (03) 2006 7800.
Website: www.pba-lille.fr
Opening hours: Mon 1400-1800, Wed-Sun 1000-1800.
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
Place 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 WWII). 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.
Further Distractions
Musée de l'Hospice Comtesse
This hospice, founded in 1237 by the Countess of Flanders, Jeanne de Constantinople, is one of the oldest buildings in Lille's Old Town. It is home to a 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.musenor.com
Opening hours: Mon 1400-1800, Wed-Sun 1000-1800.
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
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
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1800, Sat-Sun 0900-1900 (Apr-Oct); Daily 1000-1700 (Nov-Mar) - closed mid-Dec-mid-Feb.
Admission charge: N.
Disabled access: Y.
