LILLE ❘ CITY FOCUS Clockwise from this
image: Wine, dine, relax and marvel in Grand’Place, Lille’s main square; don’t miss the riches of the Palais des Beaux-Arts; the Flemish architecture of Grand’Place
FIVE MUST-VISIT SITES IN LILLE Lille is a wonderful mix of culture, history and architecture alongside great boutiques and festivals – here our fi ve of our favourite things to do and see.
PALAIS DES BEAUX-ARTS Feast your eyes on the works of Van Dyck, Delacroix, Van Gogh and Monet as well as Flemish grand master Reubens. This is one of the fi nest museums in France and there’s nary a queue in sight.
www.pba.lille.fr
VIEUX LILLE Old Lille is renowned for its incredibly well- preserved buildings that date from the 17th century, including the historic birthplace of Charles de Gaulle and the charming Musée de l’Hospice Comtesse. Locals love the neighbourhood for its wealth of trendy bars, restaurants and high-end shops. Expect to hang out en terrasse year-round.
LA PISCINE DE ROUBAIX Offi cially known as the Museum of Art and Industry, this former Art Deco swimming pool provides a stunning backdrop for an impressive collection of textiles, ceramics and drawings. Well worth the short Metro ride (Line 2, Gare Jean Lebas).
www.roubaix-lapiscine.com
VIEILLE BOURSE
Made up of 24 identical houses built around a quadrangle, the 17th-century Stock Exchange’s courtyard is known for its bouquinistes, where you’ll fi nd everything from antique books to second-hand novels and comics. And in the summer months, the Bourse hosts weekly tango evenings.
OPÉRA DE LILLE
In spite of its imposing Belle Époque façade, the city’s opera offers a relaxed atmosphere and reasonable ticket prices so you can take in a performance and the grand interior. There are also guided tours on the second Saturday of every month.
www.opera-lille.fr
CULTURE AND COLOUR
As tempting as it might be to spend a whole day loafi ng around in Vieux Lille, there’s plenty to see elsewhere. Don’t miss the impressive Palais des Beaux-Arts, the second largest museum in France after the Louvre, whose collection rivals that of any Paris institution (and without the crowds). History lovers will appreciate the birthplace of Charles de Gaulle (Maison Natale de Charles de Gaulle). A bit further afi eld, the suburb of Roubaix is home to the Piscine-Musée, an art museum housed in a stunning Art Deco swimming pool that is well worth a visit. And no visit to Lille would be complete without a tour of the famous Marché de Wazemmes. Located a mile to the southeast of the city centre in a diverse working class quartier, it’s one of the biggest markets in all of France, with an incredible array of fresh produce, meat, cheese and bread as well as fl owers and fabric. It takes place every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday morning.
HEARTY FARE
As with any trip to France, a weekend in Lille revolves around food and the city offers a unique blend of French and Flemish specialities to try. If you’re after something traditional, head to one of the many
❯❯ Aug/Sep 2022 FRANCE TODAY ❘ 47
IMAGES © SHUTTERSTOCK, OTCL LILLE / LAURENT GHESQUIÈRE, DON MUSCHTER
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148
