Lille guide | Lille attractions and things to do

About Lille, France

When first inhabited in 2,000 BC, Lille was a swampy marshland known as "L'Isle." Today, nearly 1 million people inhabit the area known as the Urban Community of Lille Metropole. It borders Belgium and traces of its neighbors and other various foreign occupants are still around today. In fact, it is such a historic French icon, that it was named a European Capital of Culture in 2004 along with Genoa, Italy.

But Lille wasn't always considered a cultural gem. Very early on Lille was applauded for its fantastic cloth. The regions textile and coal mining industry boomed for centuries. The business minded city really took off with the help of the industrial revolution's steam engines. Unfortunately all of Lille's industries began to flounder in the 1960s so the city turned its sights on the service sector. This proved to be an invaluable transition as tourists began flocking to the city. It still values tourism as its main moneymaker today.

After the decline of the industry divisions, Lille became one of the first "student city's" in Europe. Of the 225,000 plus that live here, almost half is students that attend one of Lille's three esteemed universities - the Catholic University, University of Lille and the industrial focused Central Graduate Schools. When it comes to nightlife students flock to bars and restaurants in droves and it is an eclectic mix of youth and elderly wisdom almost every night.

Things to do in Lille 

Our mini-guide to what's on in Lille lists the top 10 events and attractions in in the area. If you take your short break in Lille, France when these events are taking place, add them to your list of things to do in Lille.

1. Lille Olympique Sporting Club: Founded in 1944, this football club is one of the most celebrated in France. They often win championship matches and stir up a colossal amount of football pride in Lille's locals. The team's current Stadium Lille-Metropole is located in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, right next to Lille. However a new stadium, Stade Borne de l'Espoir is due in 2010 and will hold nearly 50,000 spectators. If you find yourself in Lille from July through March, a game is a must. Be forewarned: Don't be caught dead wearing anything but a team's blue and red home colors! Admission prices and hours vary.

2. Lille Comics Festival: With an advantage of being no more than an hour from Brussells, London and Paris, comic book junkies from all over Europe converge upon Old Lille the first weekend each November. Fans, creators and dealers are all as giddy as children sharing drawing tips, tricks and trading back issues. As of 2007, the Comic Festival began handing out the Prix Seth Fisher Award to the one deemed worthy because of their comic contributions throughout the year. E-mail: contact@lillecomicsfestival.com for 2008 admission prices and hours.

3. Wazeemes Market: Open thrice weekly on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday morning, this bustling market sells everything from fresh veggies and fruits to books, perfumes and even lingerie! There are also many small pubs and cafes encircling the marketplace, where you can grab a cold one following an afternoon spent browsing the stalls.

4. Chalice Sound System: Each month Wazeemes open air market clears out vendor stalls and installs a sound system for a huge reggae party. You can sway on the dance floor, kick back and relax on a blanket in the square or enjoy the sounds from a nearby pub. You can check the DJs My Space page for more details on exact dates and hours.

5. Place du General de Gaulle: Also known as the Grand Palace, this historic square is host to a palace that is made up of a charming collection of 24 houses decked out neo-Flemish architectural elements. The inner courtyard is open to the public from Tuesday through Sunday. Visitors can browse a used book market and sometimes find a fellow chess player or two for a match. For those that would rather slip on their dancing shoes, the courtyard is used for Tango every Sunday from July through September at 7:00pm. Lille's mascot, the goddess statue titled "la Grande Deesse", is a also located here as a prideful reminder of Lille's refusal to give up that resulted in Lille's underdog win during France's revolution.

6. La Grande Braderie: As the nostalgia of fall sets in on Lille in September, millions swarm here for the annual street fair. The fair itself is full of fleamarket items equally worth reminiscing over including furniture, antiques, art, ornaments and garments. La Braderie dates back to medieval times so the entire city gets pumped up on ancient Lille pride by providing locals and guests with a fun atmosphere full of parties, drinking and dancing. The fair is free except for what you buy. Hours typically run from 3:00pm - 12:00am.

7. Museum of Fine Arts: This is one of the best collections of fine art in Europe and falls in at number 2, right after Paris' Louvre. Even the building itself is an excellent example of 19^th century French architecture. A main highlight of the tour is some 40 paintings by celebrated artists Raphael. The museum is open every day except Tuesday, typically from 10:00am - 6:00pm.

8. Vieux Lille: When taking an afternoon stroll on the cobbled streets of Lille's oldest quarters, Vieux Lille, you can just feel the ancient history. That old feeling is seamlessly blended with a contemporary mix of designer shops, gourmet restaurants and a modernized version of the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Favored streets worth an amble are Rue de la Monnaie and Rue Esquermoise.

9. La Piscine: Like the art deco pool the collection is housed in, the museum recollects the industrial days in Lille when business was booming. And since art deco initially hailed from France, there are beautifully crafted pieces available for observational pleasure. Admission is roughly 3EUR. Hours run nearly every day from 11:00am through 6:00pm.

10. Place Rihour: This Square is surrounded by the traditional combo of restaurants, pubs and charming little townhouses. Throughout the year twinkle lights are installed and the Square becomes a glowing makeshift market place. Most notably, it is home to the tourism information center which is of importance, especially if you're a Lille virgin. But the best part about Place Rihour might just be its 15^th century Palace Rihour.

Lille Airport

The Lille-Lesquin International Airport (LIL) is located in the latter, which is still only 10 minutes from the heart of Lille. It sees nearly 1 million passengers each year and ranks fourth in France as seeing the most passengers and the most freight. LIL is linked to several countries including France, Italy, Spain and Poland.

To get to Lille from LIL, you can opt for the shuttle railway, which is located opposite the Arrivals hall. It runs on weekdays from 5:30am - 10:30pm, Saturdays from 5:30am - 6:30pm and Sundays/Holidays from 10:30am - 10:30pm. One way is 5EUR and round trip is around 8EUR. You can count on being at Lille's Euralille shopping center station in approximately 20 minutes.

There are also several taxi companies that offer services to and from the airport:

• Anny


• Jean Luc


• Mario


• Bertrand


• Guillaume


• Gares


• Rihour


• Union

Please see LIL's website for more contact details.