Lille – the fourth largest city in France and a popular destination with all kinds of travellers thanks to its fascinating history, vibrant culture and excellent transport links.

History

Lille started life in the 11th century as L’Isle, “The Island”, due to the city being located on an island in the River Deûle. French forces, led personally by Louis XIV, captured the city in 1667 and with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, Lille became part of France in 1668. Between 1708 and 1703 the city was occupied by the Dutch during the War of Spanish Succession then after the French Revolution, Austria attempted to siege Lille but was faced with successful resistance. Lille continued to grow and soon became the county seat of the Nord départment and in 1846 a rail line connecting the city to Paris was built. During the early 19th century Lille’s textile industry grew even more with the city becoming famous for its cotton. The Chambers of Commerce for Lille, Roubaix and Tourcing were joined in 1967 then in 1969 the Communauté urbaine de Lille (Lille urban community) was created with the linking of 87 communes with the city. 1983 saw VAL, the world’s first automated underground network open in Lille and 1993 and 1994 saw the arrival of the TGV (high speed train) and Eurostar respectively. Lille was awarded the honour of European Capital of Culture in 2004 and is today the fourth largest city in France and the capital of the Nord-Pas de Calais region.

Getting In & Getting Around

Lille Lesquin International Airport is a small but convenient airport serving both major and budget international airlines. The airport is some 11 km (7 miles) from the city centre and is connected by frequent coach services. Lille is a major rail hub, lying on the London - Paris - Brussels route, with TGV and Eurostar trains stopping here. Brussels is approximately 30 minutes away, Paris an hour and London just under an hour and a half. Within Lille itself there are a number of transport options available. VAL (driverless underground) train, tram and bus services run in and around the city centre.

Culture, Sights & Attractions

There is much to see and do in Lille that you will be spoilt for choice. Vieux Lille (the Old Town) is a great place to start. Here you will find picturesque cobbled square, narrow streets, cosy cafés, chic boutiques and inviting restaurants. To get a taste of Lille’s past head to the textile exchange – la Vielle Bourse and the famous square - the Place du Général de Gaulle. Lille offers a number of museums and galleries including the widely acclaimed Palais des Beaux Arts (Fine Arts Musuem) which is said to be the best in France after La Louvre in Paris and for shopping the city boasts the largest bookshop in Europe and a large shopping centre – Centre Commercial Euralille.

Eating Out

From traditional French to contemporary organic cuisine, from typical Lille estaminets (traditional restaurants) to authentic Flemish restaurants, crêperies and romantic medieval eateries, Lille has it all.

Outside The City

Due to its convenient location, there are a number of daytrips that can be done from Lille. The nearby historic town of Roubaix is home to the famous La Piscine art gallery. This unusual gallery is located in a former Art Deco swimming pool and boasts a collection of paintings, sculptures, textiles and more. Paris is just a short TGV journey away, taking approximately one hour, allowing you to see the many famous sights, explore the countless museums and shop till you drop in the abundance of stylish boutiques of the French capital. Brussels is even closer, taking just half an hour on the Eurostar, and offers beautiful architecture, mouth-watering beers, delectable chocolate and much much more.

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