French city of Lille (North-Pas-de-Calais region). Lille city in france

Old, once surrounded by a fortress wall, extends north from Liberty Boulevard. On the south side of the boulevard is a modern city with a regular layout. The boulevard runs into Citadel of Lille- a pentagonal fortress designed in the late 1660s by Vauban. Of the other fortifications from the time of Louis XIV, only paris gate. Many Lille churches of the 17th-19th centuries are distinguished by their lavish interior decoration, including Cathedral of Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille.

Tourist routes in Lille:

Landmarks of Lille:

1) Chamber of Commerce de Lille

The building of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Chambre de Commerce de Lille) was built between 1910 and 21 to replace the former City Exchange (Vieille Bourse). It was designed by the architect Louis-Marie Cordonnier. Made in the neo-Flemish style, it recalls the splendor of the former Belgian city hall. The main attraction of the building is a beautiful tower (Beffroy) 76 meters high. The dome of the tower is decorated with wonderful frescoes.

2) Le Rang du Beauregard

Le Rang du Beauregard is a beautiful image french architecture 17th century. This series of houses was built in 1687 after a bill for new buildings was passed. In accordance with the new rules, the houses had to be built in the same style with neighboring buildings, in particular with the city exchange (Vielle Bourse), in accordance with standard plan of three floors and an attic.

3) Opera de Lille

The Lille Opéra (Opéra de Lille) is a magnificent neoclassical building, in harmony with the surrounding buildings - the building of the Chamber of Commerce and Vielle Bourse. The opera was built in 1907-13 by architect Louis Marie Corndonnier. The interior of the opera is impressive in its beauty. You can watch performances at very reasonable prices.

4) Gare de Lille Flandres

Lille-Flandres is the main station in Lille, terminus for regional trains and SNCF Intercity. The station received its current name in 1993, when the second station in Lille, Lille-Europe, was opened. The Lille-Flandres station building was designed by architects Léonce Reynaud and Sydney Dunnett for CF du Nord. Construction began in 1869 and completed in 1892. The façade of the Gare du Nord building in Paris was dismantled and reassembled in Lille at the end of the 19th century, when big clock. Dunnett added the Hôtel des Voyageurs in 1887 and the roof in 1892.

5) Eglise Saint-Maurice de Lille

Construction of the Gothic church of St. Mauritia, located in the center of Lille, began already at the end of the 14th century. It was restored in the 19th century by architect Philippe Cannissié. In 1914, the building was added to the list of historical monuments of national importance.

6) Prefecture de Lille

The Prefecture of Lille is a beautiful limestone building built between 1865 and 1905 by the architect Charles Hammer. The pediments were made by the sculptor Felix Huida in 1874.

7) Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille

The Museum of Fine Arts of Lille (Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille) is one of the largest museums in France. It was one of the first museums created by order of Napoleon I in the early 19th century to promote art. The museum was opened in 1809. At first it was placed in the church building until it was transferred to the city hall building. In 1866, the "musée Wicar", formed on the basis of the collection of Jean-Baptiste Vicar (Jean-Baptiste Wicar), was merged with the Museum of Fine Arts of Lille. In the early 1990s, the poor condition of the building and the transfer of models of Vauban's fortified cities to Lille forced the city authorities to renovate the museum. In total, the museum building occupies an area of ​​22 thousand square meters. m. This is the second largest collection in France after the Louvre. Among the sculptures, paintings, drawings, ceramics, you can find works by such famous authors as Raphael, Donatello, Van Dyck, Rembrandt, Goya, El Greco, David, Corot, Courbet, Toulouse-Lautrec, Delacroix, Rubens, Rodin and others.

8) Beffroi de la Mairie de Lille

Designed by the architect Emile Dubusson, the city hall and its tower - beffroy - were erected in 1932. The height of the beffroy reaches 101 m and symbolizes Lille's focus on the world, faith in Good work and the pride of Flanders. In 2002, the beffroy was listed as a historical monument. The city hall of Lille itself is a fine example architectural style Art Deco.

9) Porte de Paris

The Paris Gate (Porte de Paris) was built in 1685-92 and already in 1865 was included in the list of historical monuments of France. When Louis XIV captured Lille, he ordered the construction of a huge triumphal arch in honor of his victory. For some time the gate served as the entrance to Lille. They are decorated with sculptures of Mars and Hercules, symbols of war and strength.

10) Statue du General Faidherbe

This sculpture depicts the French general and colonial ruler Louis Faidherbe (1818-1889). A native of Lille, during his service in Senegal, he created a detachment of Senegalese archers - Senegalese Tirailleurs. This monument, created by Antonin Mercie in 1896, depicts Faidherbe in military uniform on horseback.

11) Palais Rihour

Palais Rihour was built in the middle of the 15th century by the Dukes of Burgundy. The building now houses the Tourist Office of Lille. The building was purchased by the city authorities from the Spanish king in 1664 under the mayor's office. This luxurious palace originally consisted of 4 wings, but was badly damaged, so that only the remains of its former beauty have survived to this day, in particular, the staircase and the chapel.

12) Vieille Bourse

The Old Exchange (Vieille Bourse) was built between 1652 and 53. The merchants and brokers of Lille needed a building where they could conduct their business. They were able to convince the king of the need to build an exchange. This building has become a famous historical monument and has been restored many times. The emblem of the exchange was the statue of Mercury, the ancient Roman god of Commerce.

13) Goddess Pillar

The Column of the Goddess is famous name given by the inhabitants of Lille to the Memorial of the Siege of 1792. The siege of September 1792 took place during the French revolutionary wars and is considered a major milestone in the history of the city, despite its low significance for the history of France. Sculptor Hyacinthe Jadin created the Marche du Siège de Lille monument in 1792. Fifty years later, the city authorities decided to build a memorial, work on which began in September 1848. The memorial is a sculpture crowned with a statue. The column was created by the architect Charles Benvignat, and the sculpture was made by Theophilus Bra in the form of an allegory: a besieged city in the form of a woman with a crown on her head, which was awarded to the first soldier who climbed the wall of the besieged city.

14) Place du Generale-de-Gaulle

Place du Général-de-Gaulle - Place General de Gaulle is the central square of Lille. The large space is surrounded by Flemish-style houses, numerous restaurants and cafes. In the center of the square is the Column of the Goddess and a fountain. Locals like to gather here to relax in a restaurant or shop in shops.

15) Lille Cathedral

The Cathedral of Lille, or Basilique-cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille de Lille, is national monument. It has been the residence of the Bishop of Lille since the founding of the Diosesa in 1913. Construction cathedral began in 1854, and the temple was consecrated in honor of the sculpture of the Virgin Mary and the 12th century.

16) Lille Citadel

The citadel of Lille has a pentagonal shape. This is a fortress built inside the city walls of Lille around 1668. Inside is the French Corps de Réaction Rapide - a military rapid reaction corps. Called the "Queen of the Citadels" (Reine des Citadelles) by Marshal Vauban, the Lille citadel is one of his finest projects. It was part of a double line of fortified towns that also included Gravelines, Dunkirk, and Maubeuge-Rocroi, the famous pré carré (square field) conceived by Vauban, consisting of 28 fortified towns.

Lille is historical area French Flanders, the center of the northern region of Nord-Pas-de-Calais, a city with a Flemish accent right on the border with Belgium. That is why I chose this city for my trip. I thought a lot, looked at pictures on the Internet, did not know where to go in the spring. And then pictures of Lille caught my eye, reviews of tourists who visited this city.

I was delighted. A couple of days later I flew to Lille, a mysterious and fabulous city for me. Lille - France in the palm of your hand, that's how I would call the city.

For many centuries, textile production was the only thing that kept the city of Lille in the list of the most commercial cities. But one day, unable to withstand the pressure from the new times, the city surrendered.

But now it is one of the most cultural capitals of royal France, the main commercial and shopping mall, a place of French students, but still we must pay tribute to this city: it is such a beautiful, stunning and fascinating city that welcomes its guests so brightly that you even forget why you came here, because you didn’t want to leave back at all.

How to get here?

The international airport is located 10 kilometers from the city center. It is here that permanent international and domestic flights: from Spain, Portugal, Morocco. This time I was flying from Spain, where an international conference was taking place for all of us journalists.

By the way, there are no direct flights from Russia. First you need to fly to the famous Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, take a train and come here, to Lille.

Twice an hour, high-speed trains run to Lille from the Gare du Nord. Travel time takes approximately one hour. And the fare is from 17 to 40 euros.

There is a second departure option - this is to fly to Brussels airport, which has a direct train connection with Lille. In just 40 minutes you can reach this charming city.

If you are going here from other cities in France, then you can get from Lyon (travel time 3 hours), Marseille (travel time 4 hours), Bordeaux (travel time 5 hours), Strasbourg (travel time takes 3 hours) .

For beloved Englishmen, there is a railway connection with London: a train moves through the mysterious tunnel under the English Channel, the journey takes only an hour.

Two large stations were built in Lille: Flemish and European. They are located 400 meters from each other.

What sights are worth seeing in Lille?

When I arrived from Spain to Lille, I was immediately struck by the atmosphere of the city: friendly people, half of the people generally walked around in multi-colored clothes, with a smile on their lips. For some reason, only here there was an atmosphere of calm, no one was in a hurry, as can be seen in others. European countries where no one sees except business and money.

From this wonderful atmosphere, I even got sick of smoking, and I went for a walk along unfamiliar city Lille, the sights that began to come across already at the first step.

The Grand Place, which is named after the famous French figure Charles de Gaulle

In the center of the city of Lille is the famous Grand Place, which is named after the famous French figure Charles de Gaulle. Here in the center stands tall statue one goddess, who symbolizes the heroism of the inhabitants of the city during an unstable situation in 1792.

The landmark of the city is the house where the famous Charles de Gaulle was born. Today, this house houses a museum. But I didn’t go to the museum, because I don’t like all these boring things. Let's go further.

From central square I walked and walked and suddenly found myself in the quarters of ancient Lille, where today you can see expensive boutiques and shops in the newly restored quarters.

For people interested in history, ancient culture and the spiritual world of cities, there is one Museum of Fine Arts. It is the second of the leading museums after the Louvre in terms of size and richness of all the masterpieces of European painting, ancient monuments, sculpture and ceramics. The map of Lille has a lot of museums and historical centers.

The museum has paintings by famous artists - Rubens, Botticelli, Goya, Veronese. So you can safely walk around, admire the paintings and enjoy real creativity.

When I stopped at the Paris Gate, I immediately understood why they are so famous.

The construction was built a long time ago, when you were not yet born, on the day of the victory of Louis the 14th and the return of Lille.

On the right side, there is a statue of Hercules, which is a symbol of stability and reliability, and on the left, a statue of Mars, the magnificent and famous God of War.

I even took a picture against the backdrop of the gate and went on.

What is this city famous for?

Lille has won over many people with its markets, especially the Braderie market in September, where you can buy everything from food to paintings and technology. There is also a Christmas market.

The modern district of the city of Euralille, built relatively recently, is famous, and it is visited not only by residents of the city, but also by guests from all over the world. Even I visited it.

Do you know what the feature of this city is? You will never ride a Segway as freely as here! I did a couple of laps on two-wheel platforms with high handlebars. This is a Chinese novelty, as always. For half an hour of skiing, I paid 4 euros. And if you take a Segway for half a day, then you will have to fork out for 14 euros. If the full - then 20 euros.

You can ride a Segway in France on the Champ de Mars, there are also rentals at the Flemish railway station. Before you start riding, you go through the instructions, and then you are given a permit that allows you to ride freely on such wonderful cars throughout France.

How is the weather?

Since I came here in the spring, I was very lucky. There was no rain, it was very dry, but cloudy. Sometimes the sun was beautiful. What is the weather like in Lille?

In general, the weather in Lille is moderate, without any harsh winter or sweltering heat.

I walked around the city in April and it was +16 degrees. Of course, so that the breeze would not blow, I tied a scarf and was like that.

Taste the local cuisine

Ah, if you only knew how much I ate in the restaurants of Lille! It would seem that I arrived not very hungry, they fed me well on the plane, and in between walks I grabbed either a hot dog or a hamburger.

But, having come to one of the restaurants in Lille, I could not resist. Delicious, fragrant, delicious.

Lille is a friendly and generous city. As for the local cuisine, the portions here are large (you need to order one serving for two, and that will be a lot), no one spares time and products for preparing delicious dishes.

The cuisine of Lille deserves close and worthy of attention. There are only three tables in the city's cuisine: Flemish carbonate (appetizing pieces of beef fried in beer), waterzoi (poultry under sour cream with vegetables), potevleish (jelly from different types of meat in a pot).

You can also enjoy a huge amount of beer of different varieties: tart, ginger, dark, light.

Finally, I would like to add that Lille is wonderful, fabulous city. Of course, you can't get around it in one day. Try to find five days and plunge into this amazing atmosphere.

The choice of hotels in the city is rather big, for every taste. I stayed at the Au Clos Notre Dame apartment, I liked the convenient location in the city center and excellent reviews on Booking. I did not regret it - the apartments are quiet, there is a kitchen, the Internet works fine.

Lille - a mysterious and fabulous French city - VIDEO

The old town in Lille is small but elegant. There are four museums here at once, one of which - the Museum of Fine Arts - is the second largest in France. Immerse yourself in the amazing atmosphere of French Lille.

Lille is the northernmost of the cities hosting Euro 2016, and probably the most unusual of them. The point is that it is not, in principle, French city, but rather Picardy or Flanders, although so many things are mixed here that sometimes it is almost impossible to separate one from the other. And is it necessary?

*KIA - Official partner of the European Football Championship in France 2016

euroworld center

Before talking about how to get to a destination, you need to understand what it is in a global historical and geographical sense. The city of Lille, or rather the Lille, or northern, agglomeration, is located on the border of France and Belgium. It so happened that many cities (like Roubaix, Lesquin, Tourcoing or Villeneuve-d "Ascq), towns, urban-type settlements, villages and villages gradually grew together and turned into a single urban space, which scientists call agglomeration or metropolis.

Euro 2016 matches in Bordeaux

GROUP STAGE

Germany

Slovakia

Switzerland

Ireland

PLAY OFF. 1/8 FINALS

Group C winner

Best 3rd place team in groups A/B/F

PLAY OFF. 1/4 FINALS

Match Winner #38

Match Winner #42

The center of the old city of Lille, which gave the name to this metropolis, is located 14 kilometers from the border with Belgium, which runs almost in the middle of a single inhabited space.

It is believed that this is the second largest agglomeration in France after Paris, but in reality, if you add the Belgian sector to the French part of Lille with the cities of Ath, Kortrijk, Mouscron, Tournai, Ypres and others, they will turn out to be comparable in terms of population. By the way, since 2005, the official concept of Greater Lille has appeared, adopted by the governments of France and Belgium. A common council of 23 communes was even created, which now governs the cross-border metropolis, whose total population has reached 3.8 million.

If you want - through Paris, and if you want - through London

Now about transport. Naturally, there is an airport near the city, the services of which can be used. It is called Lesquin (Aéroport de Lille-Lesquin), because it is located in the suburb of Lille with the same name, which was once a separate town and does not want to forget about it. On the other hand, we also do not call the airport Moscow, but Vnukovo or Sheremetyevo.

Of course, the easiest way to get to Lille is through Lesquin (only 10 kilometers from the airport to the city center), but there is one problem - you won’t fly there straight from Russia. The airport is small and does not accept long-distance flights. So either look for routes with transfers or get there in another way, which is enough.

From Paris to Lille - 225 kilometers, and from Brussels - just over a hundred. So you can fly directly to these international airports and then use the high-speed trains. It is fast, convenient and relatively cheap - you can meet 30-50 euros if you book a ticket in advance via the Internet. The most convenient way is through Charles de Gaulle Airport: trains stop right at the terminal, a little over an hour to go. Cheaper - from Brussels, but you will first have to get to the city station.

In the summer of the Euro, these streets will not be overcrowded.
Photo: Paul Arps / Flickr

And one more option - at first glance exotic, but in fact quite acceptable - through London. If a difficult one suddenly brings you to Britain or you just turn up cheap airfare, then such a path will be no more difficult than through Paris. The same option with a high-speed train, the travel time is only fifteen minutes more (from London to Lille 270 kilometers). The fare will cost a little more, but if the discount on the airfare covers it - why not?

From Baldwin to Auchan

Once upon a time, the Celtic tribes of the Belgians lived here. In the first century before Christ, after a very reasoned proposal by Julius Caesar and his legionaries, they recognized the authority of Rome. At the same time, having greatly lost in numbers, since they did not immediately agree. Somewhat later, the Germans (Saxons) appeared here, hired by the Romans to protect the borders of the empire from their wild relatives. The border of the Romano-Germanic linguistic barrier (there is such a clever term) passed just through these places. After the collapse of the Roman world, the Frankish kings, the counts of Flanders, the dukes of Burgundy, at some point the Spanish Habsburgs, the British, the Austrians ... were also in charge here - Celtic (Gaulish), Romanesque (Latin), Germanic. Gradually, they mixed in different proportions, and new dialects began to form from this boiler - Walloon, Picardy, Lorraine, Dutch. They still exist as regional languages, although they are gradually being replaced by French and German.

Lille. View of the city center
Photo: Leclerq Olivier / Hemis / Corbis / East News

The city of Lille itself was founded in the 11th century by the Flemish Count Baldwin. The settlement was originally located in the middle of the river Döl on an island, and the word "lille" itself is translated as "island". In the Middle Ages, this place was at the center of a desperate struggle for power. The lords fought, and, according to tradition, the serfs cracked their forelocks: the city survived eleven sieges, and how many times it changed owners - you can’t count. But in the end, Lille even became one of the three capitals of the Duchy of Burgundy, along with Brussels and Bruges.

In 1454, modest Lille almost became the center of a world war. The pious Duke of Burgundy Philip III the Good, having learned about the capture of Constantinople by the Turks, gathered here the flower of European chivalry and, at a feast arranged in honor of this, took an oath from everyone that they would join a new crusade against the infidels. The tipsy warriors swore in unison, but the next morning, when the hop had evaporated, they preferred to forget about the promise: if I don’t remember it, then it didn’t happen! The funny episode went down in history as a “pheasant feast”.

But if the inhabitants of Lille managed to avoid the crusade, then they had nowhere to go from internal religious conflicts - Lille and its environs were at the epicenter of events. We will not describe the details, but the theological disputes cost a lot of blood to civilians - both Catholics and Protestants. This is the cross of the city - in all the big conflicts he got it in full. That during the French Revolution, when the Austrians besieged it, that under Napoleon, that during the world wars of the last century ...

Distance from Lille to other Euro 2016 cities, km

Saint-Étienne

During the industrial revolution, coal deposits were discovered in this region, and in quiet Lille, new life. The mining industry, metallurgy and already traditional textiles have become, as they say now, the drivers of rapid growth. Plus the proximity of the sea and trade. The population grew rapidly, small towns grew. Villages were deserted, agriculture was dying. It is now in approximately the same condition - it employs only one tenth of a percent of the region's population.

Industrial traditions are preserved primarily in the textile and clothing industries. If Paris is focused on high fashion and expensive boutiques, then Lille is a pan-European center for more mass fashion and branded clothing. And, of course, shopping. In this, Lille can compete with the capital!

It is appropriate to recall here that Lille is the birthplace of Auchan supermarkets, familiar to all Russians. The founder of the company, Gerard Mulier, opened his first store in the Hautes-Files area, in the town of Roubaix, a suburb of Lille. The headquarters of the concern is still in these parts. Interestingly, the name was born just from the pronunciation of the words Upper Fields - Hauts Champs. And the bird (lark) on the emblem is not accidental...

Kings legacy

From the era of Louis XIV, a fortress was preserved, which was built by Marshal de Vauban himself - the most famous fortifier of the 17th century. By the way, all his works are declared monuments. cultural heritage. The chic Paris Gates, which the “Sun King” (the same Louis XIV) erected in honor of his victories and the accession of Lille to the French crown, are reminiscent of the same times. The Old Exchange is also interesting - a rather unusual building of the same seventeenth century.

There are many cozy cafes and restaurants in Greater Lille where you can try the local cuisine.
Photo: Gardel Bertrand / Hemis / Corbis / East News

The times of the Great French Revolution are immortalized by a column in honor of the victory over the Austrians, more precisely, the siege sustained by the townspeople. Napoleon Bonaparte was noted for the construction of the Palace of Fine Arts (1809), which displays works by Tintoretto, Rubens, Raphael, van Dyck, Delacroix and other greats. And there are also ancient medals, ceramics, coins and sculptures. If someone is interested in not only the art of passing and tackling the ball, you will not be disappointed.

Waterzoo and sweaty. And drink beer

But the main charm of Lily is the mixture of styles. Next to the heritage of the French kings and emperors, typical northern buildings in the Flemish (or Dutch, or Belgian) burgher style adjoin here. There are many parks, squares, beautiful unusual squares - if there are no noisy fans nearby, you can enjoy comfort and peace. There is no industry in the historical part of the city, but there are plenty of cafes and shops.

French city of Lille (Nord-Pas-de-Calais region)

The French city of Lille (Nord-Pas-de-Calais region) is the largest and most colorful locality northern part of France.

Lille surprises many visitors with its impressive architecture, winding streets of the tastefully restored old quarter and restaurants where quantity and quality are combined in an extraordinary way.

In addition, the city is famous for some contrasting and apparently thriving commercial districts, modern plazas, large the University of Lille, absolutely new system metro and a very serious attitude towards culture, reflected in the music and art scene and in several great museums.

At the same time, it is a fairly sprawling city, stretching far into the countryside in all directions, with many adjoining suburbs and a large number of largely out of business factories. However, for the French, he remains a symbol of the country's heavy industry and working class politics.

Nowadays, the French city of Lille (the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region) is facing a huge number of modern problems in France, including the problem of impoverishment of the population, racial and ethnic conflicts, a high level of crime, not inferior to such permanent leaders in this regard as Paris And Marseilles, and the desire of the inhabitants of Lille to self-identify regionally in every possible way, in particular, in the use of the Flemish dialect (Ch "ti) in speech.

However, a purely French influence is also known in the desire, within certain limits, to make Lille the capital of European culture. In the past, most tourists simply passed by this city, but now it has become a popular weekend destination.

Arrival, city information and accommodation in Lille

Lille's central Grand Place is just a few minutes' walk from the Lille-Flanders train station (the building of this station was originally located in Paris and was called the Gare du Nord, and was moved here brick by brick in 1865).

The city station serves local trains, as well as an hourly suburban train to Paris, which is an hour away. High-speed trains - TGV and Eurostar - from London, Brussels and other destinations stop at the modern Lille-Europe station, which is five minutes from the center (you should check in advance which station your train stops at).

Despite the fact that Lille is the fifth largest city in France, its very small center can be explored on foot in just an hour, unless you decide to visit the modern art museum in Villeneuve d'Ascq or go to Roubaix, you don't even have to use the efficient metro system (tickets €1.15 per trip). Suburban buses(€4.60) takes you from Lesquin Airport to the city center in just 20 minutes.

The excellent tourist office (place Rihour) is a 10-minute walk from the station along rue Faidherbe and across Place du Theater and the Grand Place. You might have a little difficulty finding cheap lodging options, but if you don't mind the shabby look of the forecourt, here you can find hotels absolutely all categories.

Lille Hotels

1). Hotel Brueghel– A very attractive two-star hotel with antique furniture in the rooms and pleasant service. Hotel address: 3-5 parvis St-Maurice;

2). Carlton Hotel - A chic four-star hotel with all the frills. The entrance to the hotel is covered with a red carpet. Hotel address: 3 rue de Paris;

3). Hotel Continental– More expensive than Des Voyageurs, equipped with satellite TV. Hotel address: 11 place de la Gare;

4). Flandre Angleterre Hotel– The most classic hotel near railway station A: All rooms are equipped with bath or shower and toilet. Hotel address: 13 place de la Gare;

5). De France Hotel– Fantastic location right in the middle of the walking street. There are large clean and comfortable rooms, some with balconies. Entrance from the side of Vieille-Comedie (de la Vieille-Comedie). Hotel address: 10 rue de Bethune;

6). Le Grand Hotel– Comfortable two-star hotel, all rooms have shower, toilet and TV. Hotel address: 51 rue Faidherbe;

7). Hotel De la Paix– This classic two-star hotel is located in a convenient location. The common areas feature gleaming wooden staircases and leather armchairs. All rooms have shower, toilet and TV. Hotel address: 46 bis rue de Paris;

8). De la Treille Hotel– Bright hotel with marble bathrooms and pastel bedrooms, some of them overlooking the picturesque square. Hotel address: 7-9 place Louise de Bettignie;

9). Des Voyageurs Hotel- This hotel, located in a building opposite the station, offers simple, cheap rooms - the worst of them have to go up in an iron elevator. Hotel address: 10 place de la Gare.

Hostels and campsites in Lille

1). Hostel Hostel– Recently refurbished and refurbished youth hostel located in central Lille. Dinners and breakfasts are offered, you can use the kitchen. Cost of living: 15:90 euros per night, including breakfast, for youth card holders. Hostel address: 12 rue Malpart, at the end de Paris;

2). Camping Les Ramiers– Location of the campsite: the village of Bondues, 10 kilometers north of Lille. Available bus service. Closed: November-April.

Sights of Lille

The official center of Lille is the Grand Place (known as General de Gaulle Square - place du General-de-Gaulle, - another name for the Divine Square - place de la Deesse), repeats the southern border of the Old City (Vieux Lille).

To the south stretches a huge shopping pedestrian area along the street Bethune (rue de Bethune) until the adjoining areas of Bethune and the Republic (place Bethune and place de la Republique). The area is especially active on Saturdays, when there are so many shoppers that traffic is difficult, and crowded street cafes add to the excitement.

The main fair of the year, the Grande Braderie ("The Big Market"), takes place for the first time on a weekend in September. At this time, large street processions take place, and a huge flea market fills the streets of the city throughout the day. In the evening, insane consumption of fried mussels begins, from which mountains of bivalve shells remain.

Old Lille

At the eastern end of the Grand Place looms majestically building of the Old Stock Exchange(Vieille Bourse), decorated with a colorful example of ornamentation of its time. For the merchants of Lille in the 17th century, all Flemish things were synonymous with wealth and exquisite taste. They were not petty people, neither in regard to their homes nor in regard to surrounding buildings.

A flea market was organized in the recently cleared courtyard of the Exchange, where there are book and flower stalls that are open only in the afternoon. Most favorite place escorting tourists in Lille is a promenade around the fountain in the center of the square, in the middle of which rises a column built in memory of the city's opposition to the Austrian siege of 1792. The top of the column is crowned with La Deesse (goddess), the model for which was the wife of the mayor of Lille of that era - hence the second name of the square.

On the adjacent Place du Theatre, you'll see Flemish Renaissance architecture that blends beautifully with French extravagance that has been reflected in the Baroque style. An excellent example is the so-called Opera, whose facade sculptures - the figure of Apollo among the Muses - symbolize music and tragedy.

The building was built at the turn of the 20th century by Louis Cordonnier. He is also the author of the extravagant bell tower of the New Exchange, located nearby (now the Chamber of Commerce is located here, and only a small part of the premises has been given to the central post office of the city). From the northern parts of these two squares, the beautiful shopping streets of Esquermoise and Lepelletier lead to the center of the Old Town. This area with amazing character and charm has been successfully restored and fits nicely into the general life of the city, despite the fact that for many years it was a decrepit North African ghetto.

In order to fully enjoy the atmosphere and beauties of the Old Town, climb up the English street (rue d'Angleterre), along the New Bridge (rue du Pont-Neuf), to the Porte de Gand (Porte de Gand) and along the Monnet (rue de la Monnaie) to the Golden Lion Square (place Lion-d'Or). Places to eat and drink are everywhere, interspersed with chic boutiques.

The city is the capital of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region and the prefecture of the Northern department. In 2008, the population of the city was more than 225 thousand inhabitants. The climate of the city is oceanic - summers are rather cool with little precipitation, and winters are mild and warm.

Lille - video

Lille was founded in 640. Initially, the Gallic then Germanic tribes lived here, and after them the territory of the city was inhabited by the Frisians, Saxons and Franks. The name of the city of Lille comes from the word "island" for the simple reason that in ancient times the territory was swampy, and the castle of the counts of Flanders was built on a dry part of the area and was called an island.

In May 1940, the city was captured by the Nazis, who caused significant damage. The retreat of the German troops took place in the early autumn of 1944, and already in 1948 the city was almost completely restored after the war. Since 1980, Lille has developed rapidly, mainly in the service sector. In 2004, the city was named the European Capital of Culture.

Landmarks in Lille

Old Lille is famous for its wonderful old streets and excellent museums. One of these is Musée de Moulin- This the most unique museum windmills. Two of these mills are still in operation and grind grain especially for visitors.

Worth paying attention to Palace of Fine Arts- it is considered one of the largest museums in. The Museum of Art was founded at the beginning of the 19th century by decree of Napoleon I himself. The museum's collection includes works by prominent masters such as Donatello, Van Dyck, Rubens, Rembrandt, Raphael, Jordans, El Greco. Here are three greatest work French artists worth visiting the art museum for - Pierre's Dream "Cecile Puvis de Chavannes", "Belisarius Begging" (this work is by Jacques-Louis David) and "Afternoon Coffee" by Gustave Courbet. The museum also has collections of French and Italian drawings, ceramics and carvings.

The attraction of the city of Lille is also museum under open sky . It occupies about ten hectares of land. The museum houses traditional farmhouses with thatched-roofed grain barns. On the territory of the museum there is a handicraft shop where workshops on crafts are held - the artisans themselves demonstrate their skills.

In the very center of the old city, preserved flanders building. It was erected in 1237 as a hospital by Countess Jeanne of Constantinople. The building served its main purpose until 1939. At present, this is Art Museum, where porcelain made in the region, paintings, sculpture and tapestries are presented as exhibits. However, the greatest impression is made by the architecture of the building, which brings tourists closer to the distant past. Also, you can not pass by the lovely garden of medicinal plants.

The modern architectural symbol of the city is the basilica, which has the name Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille. This temple was dedicated to the Mother of God, it was built in gothic style in 1854. The temple was built for a long time due to financial difficulties and wars, which in every possible way prevented the construction. And only by 1999 it was still possible to complete the construction of the cathedral. The main façade, unique in its marble section, was designed by architect Pierre-Louis Carlier (born in Lille) and engineer Peter Rice (he is famous for his work on the Sydney Opera House). The cathedral houses a statue of Our Lady dating back to the 12th century.

1. The most favorable time to visit the city is the period from May to September, since at this time the most suitable weather is warm and sunny. But in winter period Sightseeing can be hampered by frequent rain.

2. The metro is considered the most relevant public transport in Lille, but you should know that some stations are located at a considerable distance from entertainment and sightseeing sites. In second place in terms of comfort is public transport like trams and buses.

3. If you visit a cafe or restaurant, then you should remember that in the city a sign of good taste is a tip left to the waiter, in the amount of 7 to 15% of the amount of your order.

4. If you decide to relax in nature, then you should know that it is forbidden to make fires and leave garbage in the wrong places in gardens and local parks. There is a dedicated area for picnic lovers. In case of violation of the rules in Lille, monetary fines are provided.

6. The cost of a ticket for public transport for this moment is approximately 1.4 euros (a single ticket is purchased for all modes of transport). Tickets for 24 hours will cost you about 4 euros, but a special booklet, which consists of ten tickets, will cost you eleven euros. You can buy tickets directly from the controller in the cabin or in special automatic kiosks located at each stop.

7. In Lille, a bicycle is very popular, on which you can move without any obstacles throughout the city. It is possible to rent such transport at rental points, of which there are plenty in Lille. An interesting fact is that the longer the rental period, the lower the daily rental fee.

8. Also quite famous and no less popular mode of transport here is the segway. Renting such transport is possible in the center called Relais Oxygene, which is located at the Flemish railway station. If you are riding this type of transport for the first time, then you should definitely take a short training course.