One hour from Paris, Brussels or London, Lille has all the assets to seduce. The city has become the heart of a European metropolis, resolutely looking to the future. Its heritage and its cultural agenda make the first calls of the foot and once there, one is conquered by the kindness of its inhabitants and its delights based on hops and maroilles. Committed, friendly, attractive but not grandiloquent, Lille has reinvented itself. Just like Tourcoing, a charming getaway half an hour from the capital of the Hauts-de-France.

Bike ride and architectural pearls

Nowhere else does the little queen wear her letters of nobility better than here. As soon as you arrive, don't hesitate to get on a bike. Lille is a paradise for lovers of the little queen: no hills and many bike paths not to mention that you will really be a local colour! And if the weather doesn't allow it, opt for a good rain cape or the metro. Lille is full of architectural pearls that are revealed as soon as they arrive in Lille Europe, where the great names of contemporary architecture appear: Rem Koolhas, Jean Nouvel or Christian de Portzamparc. This new district attracts architects from all over Europe. If your train arrives in Lille Flandres, only 500 metres from its contemporary neighbour, you will find a Haussmann boulevard overlooking the Grand Place.... A nerve centre, the Grand-Place offers terraces, always crowded from the first ray of sunshine. It would probably not have had the same charm without the Old Stock Exchange, transformed into a book market and a tango room in the summer. It is nice to stroll around and discover the latest news at Le Feruret du Nord, one of the largest bookstores in Europe!

Flemish accents, beer and culinary specialities

The Flemish influence is very present. Walking through the streets of Old Lille often gives the visitor the impression that he or she has left France. Mandatory stopover: Meert, rue Esquermoise. The house is a confectionery that offers waffles filled with vanilla or speculoos. With a waffle in hand, you can imagine yourself in the cities of northern Europe... Especially since many Flemings come to Lille on weekends

Going up to the citadel, you stop in rue de la Monnaie in front of the Hospice Comtesse, a legacy of the Counts of Flanders, which hosts temporary exhibitions. Going down the rue d'Angleterre, you reach the quai du Wault. This small port reminds us that the city of Lille was built on a marsh and that water was then everywhere. La Deûle still crosses the city and a stroll along its banks, in the direction of the citadel, will be a relaxing stopover for the whole family

The Flemish tradition is also on the plate and in the mug! Nationally known for its mussels and chips, the North fortunately has many other specialities to offer. Beer, a regional heritage, which is as popular as on the other side of the border, goes very well with local dishes. After an aperitif in Solferino Street, the belly call will take you to one of the city's estaminets, in Old Lille (Ghent Street or on Onion Square) or around the Grand Place. These small restaurants, of which only the North and Belgium have the secret, offer a warm atmosphere and robust dishes. A great way to regain your strength after an intensive walk! As a starter, you will have the choice between grey shrimps or the famous maroilles pie! If the smell frightens you, the taste will spill over! A Flemish carbonnade, a kind of beef bourguignon simmered in beer, will also leave you with delicious memories. Several dishes with intriguing names: potjevleesch (a terrine of white meat in jelly) or waterzoï (a kind of fish or poultry stew served with vegetables). And for desserts, why not try Ch'Tiramisu (with speculoos) and finish on the local digestive, juniper!

A metropolis to discover

Coming to Lille also means discovering the other cities of the city. The metro and tramway offer the possibility to discover Roubaix, Tourcoing or Villeneuve-d'Ascq in 20 to 45 minutes. Villeneuve is a huge student campus and is home to the LaM, one of the largest museums of contemporary and raw art in France. The LaM is easily accessible and displays a superb artistic collection while giving the opportunity to take a beautiful family outing by bike, on foot or on horseback, in the green lung of the metropolis: the Heron Park

Roubaix is also worth a visit. The textile tradition of the North is not only a past heritage: the city has understood it well! The Manufacture of Flanders promotes the craft through workshops and, right next door, you can take the time to stroll through the fashion boutiques, which bring together young designers who are causing a sensation in London or Paris! And then this stopover will allow you to discover the jewel of the city's museums: the Piscine, the Museum of Art and Industry. This authentic 1930s swimming pool has now been converted into a museum while preserving its pool and cabins.... A real journey into Art Nouveau!

Tourcoing, a city in full effervescence

About twenty kilometres from Lille, we can enjoy a pleasant getaway to Tourcoing. The first mention of the city of Hauts-de-France in an official text dates back to 1080: it is a deed of donation for the abbey of Harelbecque. During the Revolution, the city had almost 15 000 inhabitants. But it is above all modern and contemporary history that is transforming the city. In the 19th century, it flourished extraordinarily following the industrial revolution. As in Roubaix, textiles are essential and transform the city. Demographics exploded and industry flourished, so that many buildings appeared: in 1860, the Saint-Christophe church was considerably enlarged by the architect Charles Leroy and became one of the most beautiful neo-Gothic buildings in the North. In 1906, on the occasion of the International Exhibition of Textile Industries (held in Tourcoing), the belfry of the Chamber of Commerce was built. The city is particularly marked by the mandate of Mayor Gustave Dron (Mayor from 1899 to 1919 and from 1925 to 1930). This frenzy lasted until the Second World War... Because Tourcoing remained an important city and suffered from the Occupation - it was in a bunker in the town that the message announcing the landing was intercepted. After the conflict, business resumed... until the sad period of the crisis, which Tourcoing overcame by developing several cultural poles, which became its new battle horse. Like Roubaix, Tourcoing is now in full swing. There are many comparisons between the two cities and the current transformation of the Union area, which straddles the two cities, only reinforces the necessary cooperation between these two cradles of the creative industries.

Smart info

When? When? All year round. To appreciate the architectural walks in Old Lille and the bike rides, prefer the arrival of the sunny days. To take advantage of the Eldorado's rich programme, visit Lille between 27 April and ¹ December 2019.

Getting there. By plane (Lille-Lesquin airport is located 15 km south of Lille), by train (Lille-Flandres or Lille-Europe stations are 1 hour from Paris, 3 hours from Lyon and 4 hours 30 from Marseille), by bus or by car, everything is possible.

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