Tourist Attractions of Lille

Sightseeing Overview

Lille is divided in two by the boulevard de la Liberte: 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 cafes and restaurants. To the south is the new town, not quite as picturesque as Vieux Lille, with its wide and regular streets.

The old city’s points of interest include the 1652 Flemish styled Vieille Bourse (the textile exchange), near the place du General 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 Republique, the Musee 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 Sebastien Le Prestre, Marquis de Vauban; and to the east, just by Lille Europe station, is the Euralille shopping complex.

Passes
Pass Libre Acces gives free access to over 30 sites in Lille and the region, as well as free transport in the city.

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.

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 cafe 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.

Place General 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 WW2). 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 (General de Gaulle Birthplace and Museum)
Lille’s most famous son, the General de Gaulle, rose to fame as leader of the Free French forces whilst in exile in London during World War 2. 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.

Further Distractions:

Musee 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. Please note the museum is closed for renovation until February 2006.

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.

Musee 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.