| Lilac Lille | ||
 | ||
Coat of arms and flag .svg/64px-Blason_ville_fr_Lille_(Nord).svg.png)  | ||
| State | France | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Nord-Pas de Calais | |
| Altitude | between 18 and 46 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 34.83 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 232.741 (2015) | |
| Name inhabitants | Lillois / Lilloises | |
| Prefix tel | 33 3 2 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 59000, 59160, 59260, 59777, 59800 | |
| Time zone | UTC 1 | |
Position
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| Tourism site | ||
| Institutional website | ||
Lilac (French: Lille, Dutch: Rijsel) is a city of Nord-Pas de Calais.
To know
Lille is a medium-sized city (it is the fifth largest metropolitan area in France) with a very large student population. With around 100,000 students, 4 universities (Lille I, II, III and the Catholic University) and many schools (EDHEC and ESJ are probably the most famous), Lille is one of the leading university centers in the country.
It has a strong industrial presence, but, after a few difficult years, it is now known throughout France for its beautiful old town and its very active cultural life.
Geographical notes
The city is located on the river Deûle, very close to the border with the Belgium. It is estimated that the entire metropolitan area of Lille, which covers both French and Belgian territory and includes Courtrai is Tournai, contains more than 2.1 million inhabitants. It is the capital of the Hauts-de-France region and the prefecture of the Nord department.
Lille is also very close (less than half an hour by car) to Lens, Valenciennes is Douai, in the south, in the north Dunkirk, Bethune in the West, Tournai, in French Belgium, Kortrijk (Courtrai) in the North East e Ypres in Flanders in the North.
When to go
Its climate is temperate and takes advantage of the relative proximity of the sea to soften climatic variations, which makes winters in the North much less terrible than one might sometimes imagine.
Background
Designated "European Capital of Culture" for the year 2004, Lille remains a city full of events of all kinds.
How to orient yourself
Lille (France): full screen map.The metropolitan area of Lille (or Lille Métropole) is actually multipolar and includes the municipalities of Roubaix is Tourcoing (nearly 100,000 inhabitants each), the new city of Villeneuve d'Ascq, and a dense network of smaller towns (Armentières, Comines, etc.) extending beyond the Belgian border towards Comines, Menin, Mouscron. The continuity of the agglomeration makes the border imperceptible, as a Mouscron, a city united with the French Tourcoing and Wattrelos.
Neighborhoods
- 1 Vieux Lille - the historic district of the city.
- 2 Euralille - a neighborhood organized around the railway stations of Lille-Flandres and Lille-Europe, but also the Grand Palais, Euralille is always on the move: here great world-famous architects have left their imagination and created a futuristic and original neighborhood.
How to get
Most visitors will likely arrive by train at Gare de Lille Europe or Gare de Lille Flandres. It is possible to land at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport and then continue by train, but do not try with Paris Beauvais airport as there is no train connection and the only bus passes by first. Paris.
By plane
- 1 Lilla Lesquin Airport (IATA: LIL). This airport is small but convenient for entering Lille or for traveling to neighboring areas across the Belgian border. Both major and low cost airlines operate scheduled services. Unlike larger airports, check-in counters are located directly inside the entrance and security checks are directly behind check-in.
- A direct bus connects Lille city center (stops outside the main train station) in 20 minutes and travels once an hour for € 7, while a return ticket is € 9. A taxi to the center costs around € 20.
- 2 Charleroi-Brussels South Airport (IATA: CRL) (Located about 120 km from Lille). The airport offers a wide range of European destinations through low cost Ryanair and Wizzair, as well as some other carriers. It is a popular option for Lille's student population.
- Getting to the Belgian airport can be tricky without a car, although Flibco offers an airport service. The journey takes 1 hour and 40 minutes and can cost up to € 5; otherwise you can take a train from Lille-Flandres train station to Charleroi, then get on the airport bus. This trip should take just over 2 hours.
On the train
Lille has two main train stations:
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- 3 [link not working]Lille Europe station (gare de Lille-Europe). The station is located in the heart of the Brussels-Paris-London high-speed rail corridor. The TGV and Eurostar trains stop there, the TGV / Thalys journey from Brussels takes just over 30 minutes, the TGV from Paris about an hour and the Eurostar from London one hour and 22 minutes through the Channel Tunnel.
- Check the SNCF website to see train timetables. If you are traveling from UK, the Eurostar is the best option to reach Lille via the Channel Tunnel. Journey time to Gare de Lille Europe is 1 hour and 22 minutes from London St Pancras International, 1 hour and 8 minutes from Ebbsfleet and just 56 minutes from Ashford. Rail connections depart regularly by ferry from Calais.
- Lille is also connected by the TGV to Lyon (3 hours), Nantes (4 hours), Strasbourg (3.20 hours) e Marseille (5 hours).
- 4 [link not working]Lille Flanders station (gare de Lille-Flandres). This station is mainly served by TER regional trains.
Another option is to take the TER or the slower regional trains, where you can buy a fairly cheap ticket at many locations in France and Belgium. The Nord-Pas-de-Calais transit office offers "Trampoline" weekend passes, where you can purchase a return trip on TER trains between Lille and several Belgian cities for a fixed price of 20- 40 €, with the freedom to choose train timetables. Be warned though: depending on the train, cities may be referred to by their French or Dutch name, which can be confusing.
By bus
- 5 bus station, Lille Europe station. OUIBUS the French bus branch of SNCF, Eurolines is Flixbus they run bus services between Paris, Brussels, London, Amsterdam, Bruges and more.
- Tickets of all these companies can be purchased on Sobus.
How to get around
By public transport
Lille has two metro lines connecting the city center with the different suburbs and two tram lines from Fiandre station to Roubaix is Tourcoing, two other major cities in the Hautes de France region.
- line 1 of the metro
- line 2 of the metro
- tram line R
- tram line T
- line 1 of the metro
- line 2 of the metro
- tram line R
- tram line T
The bus lines then serve all parts of the city.
Transpole is the public transport company in Lille.
Single tickets are € 1.60 € 0.20 for the rechargeable ticket. 24-hour passes are available for € 4.80 but also other types of tickets for longer stays. The machines accept cash and cards. Tickets cover the Transpole metro, buses and trams to any destination, longer intercity trains (e.g. to Roubaix) require separate tickets.
By bike
The city has a bike sharing service:
- V'Lille. To rent a bicycle, it is mandatory to have a personal Passa Pass card, its creation is possible online or at the Transpole office of the "Lille Flandres" station for € 4 (valid for 5 years). Renting a bike costs € 1.4 per day or € 7 per week. There are almost 2000 free bicycles throughout the metropolis (the list of stations is visible here).
What see
Lille is a cultural and commercial center with a wide range of restaurants, bars, clubs, museums, shopping centers and more. A highlight is the old town with beautiful Flemish-influenced architecture. The nightlife, thanks to the city's large student population, is cutting edge and lively. It is a diverse, dynamic and beautiful city - there is something in Lille that will appeal to everyone.
Take a stroll in the old quarter of the city, known as Vieux Lille, and enjoy the cobblestone streets, variety of elegant designer shops, gourmet restaurants and museums. During the Christmas period you can visit the Christmas Market, take a ride on the Ferris wheel in the main square and take pictures with Santa Claus. Other noteworthy streets such as Rue de la Monnaie is Rue Esquermoise they are definitely worth it.
1 Old bag (Vieille Bourse), place du Général-de-Gaulle, rue des Manneliers and place du Théâtre ( Rihour), ☎ 33 3 59 57 94 00. 
Tue-Sun 13: 00-19: 00. Built in 1653, this is a historic and beautiful building with an opening atrium and an internal courtyard. Located between two picturesque squares, Place du Général-de-Gaulle and Place du Théâtre, this former trading post still plays a central role in the life of the city. Inside the inner courtyard, you can find antiques, posters and other hidden gems.
Tue-Sun 13: 00-19: 00. Built in 1653, this is a historic and beautiful building with an opening atrium and an internal courtyard. Located between two picturesque squares, Place du Général-de-Gaulle and Place du Théâtre, this former trading post still plays a central role in the life of the city. Inside the inner courtyard, you can find antiques, posters and other hidden gems.
2 Place du Général-de-Gaulle (The grand place) ( Rihour). The main square of Lille. It has many beautiful Flemish-inspired buildings, such as the headquarters of the local newspaper La Voix du Nord and a fountain with a statue of a goddess, "la Grande Déesse" (1843). There are a myriad of restaurants, bars and elegant shopping malls located around the square. - 3 Palais Rihour. Palace of 1453.
4 Town Hall of Lille (Hôtel de ville), Rue Augustin Laurent ( Mairie de Lille), ☎ 33 3 20 49 50 00. Mon-Fri 8: 00-17: 00, Sat 8: 00-12: 00. The town hall and its 104-meter high bell tower is a historic monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The bell tower is open to visitors. - 5 Greater Lilac Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie Grand Lille), Place du Théàtre ( Rihour), ☎ 33 3 20 63 77 77. Mon-Fri. Built in 1921. It offers a magnificent sight, especially when illuminated at night.
- 6 Citadel of Lille (Citadelle de Lille), Avenue du 43e régiment d'infanterie ( Rihour). Free admission. A 17th century masterpiece of defensive military architecture, built under the reign of Louis XIV and designed by Vauban, the famous French military architect. In the same area there is a zoo and a lovely park.
- 7 [link not working]Cathedral of Our Lady of the Pergola (Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille de Lille), Place Gilleson, ☎ 33 3 20 31 59 12. Construction of this cathedral began in 1854 and was only finally finished in 1999.
- 8 Gare Lille Europe metro station. The metro in the Lille Europe long-distance train station is an attraction in its own right. In the large main corridor, the wall is covered with a beautiful mural depicting various famous monuments around the world.
- 9 Tour de Lille (ex-Tour du Crédit Lyonnais) (Above the Lille-Europa station). not open to visitors. The fourth tallest tower in France (excluding Paris and its suburbs), the Tour de Lille, rises 116 meters above Gare Lille Europe. It was designed by the architect Christian de Portzamparc and inaugurated in 1995. Contrary to what one might think, the "L" shape is purely coincidental and does not represent the initial of the city: the building was able to satisfy very specific criteria : go over the station platforms and reach more than 100 meters high in one point of the building. It contains over 18,000 m² of offices.
Museums
- 10 Musée des Beaux-Arts (Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille), Place de la République ( République - Beaux Arts), ☎ 33 3 20 06 78 00.
Full € 7, reduced € 4 (Jun 2019). Mon 14: 00-18: 00, Wed-Sun: 10: 00-18: 00. A famous museum covering European art from the 15th to the 20th century. The museum boasts a fine collection of important artists such as Raphael (of drawings), Bosch, Rubens, van Dyck, Goya, Jacques-Louis David, Watteau, Delacroix, Courbet, Monet and Rodin. There are many events including night events and festivals. - 11 Natural History Museum (Musée d'histoire naturelle de Lille), 19 Rue de Bruxelles ( République - Beaux Arts o Lille Grand Palais), ☎ 33 3 28 55 30 80. A large collection of stuffed mammals, insects, fossils, etc.
Full € 7, reduced € 4 (Jun 2019). 
- 12 Musée de l'Hospice Comtesse, 32 Rue de la Monnaie, ☎ 33 3 28 36 84 00. Municipal Museum of Ethnography and Folklore.
- 13 Birthplace of Charles de Gaulle (House of birth of Charles de Gaulle), 9 Rue Princesse, ☎ 33 3 59 73 00 30. Wed-Sat 10: 00-13: 00 3 14: 00-18: 00, Sun 13: 30-18: 00. The birthplace of Charles de Gaulle, leader of the French resistance and later president of France.
Events and parties
- 6 Braderie de Lille. September. The largest flea market in Europe for which millions of people come to Lille. You will find everything: paintings, antiques, ornaments, furniture, clothing, art and more. Traditional braderie food is moules-frites, or mussels and fries, usually paired with a refreshing local beer. You will find many restaurants that sell this meal at an affordable price. Tourists and locals celebrate, eat and drink in a very lively and fun atmosphere.
- Christmas market. Christmas time. Famous with visitors. You can access this market from the main square, where you can also admire the Ferris wheel and Christmas lights hanging all over the old town. The beautiful lights, the warm atmosphere, the local shops and restaurants make this time pleasant for everyone. There are unique local shops selling items such as handmade soaps, artisanal honey, saucisson, and handmade crafts. There are many food stalls selling a range of delicious Christmas foods such as hot and spiced wine, pretzels, tartiflette, raclette, hot waffles with your choice of sweet fillings, cider, soup, chocolate and even cocktails.
What to do
- 1 Opéra de Lille, 2 rue des Bons Enfants ( Rihour and Gare Lille Flandres), ☎ 33 3 28 38 40 50, @[email protected]. A splendid theater built in 1923.
- 2 Théâtre Sébastopol, place Sébastopol, ☎ 33 3 20 54 44 50. One of the most famous theaters in Lille.
- 3 [link previously not working]Lille Zoo (In the park of the citadel). € 4 adults, € 2 children. A small zoo that houses a hundred different species, with shared cages, an aviary where you can walk among the animals and a terrarium.
Shopping
How to have fun
Where to eat
Food lovers will find themselves in a culinary paradise in Lille. Northern dishes are delicious, hearty, and hot, and the restaurants pride themselves on serving authentic food at affordable prices. Typical dishes include Potjevleesch, Welsh, which is a hearty fusion of cheddar cheese and fried egg, carbonnade flamande, hearty beef stew, and of course moules frites. Try maroilles cheese if you are brave - it is Lille's special cheese with a strong smell.
Those with a sweet tooth will find hundreds of small bakeries and boulangeries selling cakes, pastries and macarons along with a notable number of chocolate shops.
One of the most popular and accessible options is the multitude of kebab shops around the city. For a few euros, you can get a hearty sandwich with shaved chicken or lamb with a side of frites. A local specialty is kebab with "Fricandelles", or sausages native to this region. This is a great local alternative to a fast food chain for a quick bite.
Moderate prices
- 1 Guillaume Vincent Chocolatier, 12 Rue du Cure Saint-Etienne, ☎ 33 3 20 42 98 43. Mon 14: 00-19: 00, Tue-Sat 10: 00-19: 00. sells beautifully decorated chocolates.
- 2 Pâtisserie Méert, 25-27 Rue Esquermoise, ☎ 33 3 20 57 07 44. arguably the finest French patisserie, it sells President Charles de Gaulle's favorite waffles.
Where stay
Safety
Despite its charm and dynamic atmosphere, Lille is seen as a dangerous city full of social problems by most French people. While there are certainly issues that require more attention, it is actually on par with other large French cities in terms of safety. During the day, take basic precautions - this should be enough to avoid problems. However, be careful at night and try to stay on well-lit roads.
By far the most common problem you will encounter is pickpocketing, which is particularly common on the subway and in crowded areas. The presence of drunks is also common, which is compounded by the large student population. Drug trafficking has also become quite widespread. Finally, Lille has one of the most visible homeless populations in France.
How to keep in touch
Around
- 7 La Piscine Museum (The Piscine-Musée d'Art et d'Industrie André Diligent or Le musée d'Art et d'Industrie de la ville de Roubaix), 23 rue de l'Espérance Roubaix, ☎ 33 3 20 69 23 60. A 20th century art museum built around a former bathhouse. The main room has a swimming pool.
- 8 Lille Métropole modern art museum (Lille Métropole - musée d'Art moderne, d'Art contemporain et d'Art brut), 1 Allée du Musée, Villeneuve-d'Ascq, ☎ 33 3 20 19 68 68. Modern art and contemporary art with works by: Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, Fernand Léger, Amedeo Modigliani, Paul Klee, Joan Miró, Alexander Calder.
- Bruges - Train from Lille to Courtrai (€ 6) and from Kortrijk to Bruges (€ 8).
- Courtrai is Tournai - Belgian cities near the French border, part of the Lille metropolitan area. Easily accessible by train via special cheaper tickets, called Trampoline offers. For € 8 you can take a day trip to either of these two cities.
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Lille (France)
Commons contains images or other files on Lille (France)
