Lille, with its famously friendly population, fascinating old town, Flemish feel and brilliant shopping area, is a fabulous place for a short city break. You’ll find art both contemporary and classic, a unique French-Belgian melange of culture and the very warmest of welcomes.
A city of the arts
There are a number of top arts destinations in Lille. Make the neoclassical Opéra de Lille your first stop. The opera house, which was originally erected in 1788, burnt down in a devastating fire in 1903. Leading architect of his day Louis Cordonnier rebuilt the important building in the Louis XVI style, and it was reopened. The exterior, with its sumptuous stonework and grand façade is well worth a look, and tours of the interior are sometimes offered too.
If you’re a contemporary art fan, make your way to the LaM, or, to give this venue its full title, the Lille Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, Contemporary Art and Art brut. Here you will find an incredible 4,500 artworks housed in a space covering some 4,000 square meters. Famously, this is the only museum in Northern Europe to hold examples of all the main movements of both 20th and 21st century art. There’s a sculpture park, and works from Picasso, Miro and Modigliani. For more art history, the Palais des Beaux-Arts is home to a 2nd century mummy, Donatello’s 15th century Feast of Herod and amazing pieces from Goya, Monet, Delacroix, Rodin and Rubens.
As well as a penchant for great art, Lille also has a love of world cinema. There are around 30 cinemas in the city covering all bases, from the alternative and intimate, to the commercial and large-scale screens where blockbusters are the order of the day.
The historical centre
Lille’s historic centre, Place du Général de Gaulle, is a source of some pride among local people. Dating back to the 11th century, the square at its heart was originally built as a wheat market.
Take time to appreciate the stunning Vieille Bourse, originally built as the city’s stock exchange in 1653. Erected in part to help the bankers and traders stay out of the cold, the Vieille Bourse is a majestic quadrangle of interconnected properties and an expansive central courtyard. Each building is decorated elaborately as per the fashions of the Renaissance period. Now, the buildings have been transformed into book shops, cafés and florists.
You’ll also discover the Citadelle – a giant, star-shaped fortress from the 17th century. It’s still in use, and houses the Nato Rapid Reaction Corps.
A Lille of what you fancy
It’s border location means that Lille gets the best of both French and Belgian cuisines, along with Flemish specialties. Yes, you can get the brasserie classics of steak frites and moules et frites everywhere, but you’ll also find beef carbonnade, lots of stews and waterzooi, which is fish cooked in cream. There are high-end options throughout Lille, but an affordable and always popular hangout is L’assiette du Marche on Rue de la Monnaie.
A small city with a lot to give, its charms are quickly discovered with car hire in Lille.