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Visit Lille
Lille was born out of the water around 1000 AD of the Deûle river, a slow-flowing tributary situated on a major route between the great Flemish towns and the Champagne fairs. The town initially developed at a transhipment point on the Deûle, which required boats to be unloaded until they reached a more navigable section of the river. The town’s origins were therefore as a port, which preceded its role as a merchant town.
Lille was initially the possession of the powerful Counts of Flanders and was coveted by the Kings of France. After the battle of Bouvines (1214), during which her husband Ferrand de Portugal was taken prisoner, Countess Jeanne of Flanders governed alone and made Lille her primary residence.
In 1369, Marguerite de Mâle, the last Countess of Flanders, married her second husband, Philippe the Hardy, Duke of Burgundy. When Louis de Mâle died in 1384, Lille became part of Burgundy.
Lille’s destiny changed radically again in 1477 with the death of Charles the Bold. His daughter, Marie de Bourgogne, married Maximilian of Austria, son of Emperor Frederick III of the Hapsburg family. Lille became part of the Spanish Netherlands, from Charles Quint to Philippe IV.
The main break in Lille’s history came when it was conquered by Louis XIV in 1667 in the midst of the War of Devolution. The look of the town changed drastically with the introduction of the classical French style. From 1667 to 1670, the architect Vauban set about building “the queen of citadels”. From 1670 on, a new district began to take form : the ‘quartier Royal’, which was remarkable for the regularity of its road layout.
During the War of Succession with Spain, Lille was conquered by the Dutch and became French once and for all in 1713 with the signing of the Treaty of Utrecht.
Lille became a great industrial power in the 19th century, its main pillars being metalwork, chemistry and, above all, textiles (cotton and linen).
Lille is France’s fourth largest metropolitan area, an international crossroads and a dynamic financial centre, Lille is also an artistic and historic city. In 2004, it was designated as a European Culture Capital. Since then, Lille has become an important tourist destination, recognised for its welcoming living environment, well-preserved heritage and active cultural life.
Today Lille is a colourful city with an abundance of theatres, markets, shops, bars, carnivals and brasseries that entice visitors new and old.
Local Cuisine
Flemish taverns typify the local dining scene, and you can get attractive lunchtime deals on moules-frites. For something a little more adventurous, the landmark Alcide has oysters or Flemish meat stews. The equally stylish L’Écume des Mers specialises in seafood, while for location and ambience, head for the upstairs dining room at L’Houblonnière.
Most bars offer full menus twice a day. Establishments can be wacky and or unpretentiously local, such as the cosy Le Vinci.
Recommended Venues for Dining in Lille ::
Alcide (5 rue Debris St-Etienne, 03 20 12 06 95, closed Sun dinner)
stylish L’Écume des Mers (10 rue de Pas, 03 20 54 95 40)
L’Houblonnière (42 place du Général de Gaulle, 03 20 74 54 34)
“Arty” (Maison du Moulin d’Or, 31-33 place du Théâtre, 03 20 55 00 10; L’Illustration, 18 rue Royale, 03 20 12 00 90)
Le Vinci (70 rue de l’Hôpital Militaire, 03 20 57 36 60).
Night Life
Lille is the fourth largest city in France and many people from the surrounding towns come into Lille for the larger bars and clubs on offer. At the same time, Lille only has one million habitants and there is strong local feeling that makes you feel very welcome. Many of the Locals in Lille sit out by cafes and drink coffee; this is particularly common in the earlier part of the night, but you may find that this continues all night if the conversations are good. The Spring and Summer in Lille provides lovely weather, so wherever you are in the evening, you can always sit outside.
In order to take advantage of Lille, it is worth watching what the locals do on an evening; enjoy a nice walk down the courtyards or Old Lille and look at the scenery, and relax and enjoy some wine. If people are drinking excessively; they are more assuredly tourists.
Lille Prices and Availability
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Lille Special Offers
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