by Janis / 2 comments - Orginally published:3rd March 2020

If it’s a day trip or mini-break, you’re spoilt for choice in Lille

If you’re looking to visit France and feel that you would like somewhere more sedate than Paris, I highly recommend Lille.

It has beautiful architecture within colourful, grand surroundings, and the café culture is delightful. You can brush up on your French and immerse yourself in moules frites or waffles (definitely waffles for me).

What is even better for those heading from the UK is that Lille is just a relaxing train ride away. In fact, it only takes 1 hour and 22 minutes from London on the Eurostar, no time at all. You could even visit on a day trip.

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Lille's Chamber of Commerce facade, including the belfry.
Chamber of Commerce

Where is Lille?

How to get to Lille

- By Train
Also, you have the choice of letting Eurostar take the strain. You can catch a train from London St Pancras International direct to Lille in under 1 hour 30 minutes.

There's also a TGV service from Paris that takes just over an hour.

- By Car
It's just 70miles/112kms from Calais, so will take less than 90 minutes.

Or from Paris it's 140 miles/225km.

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Discovering France

The regional differences

Once you arrive, Lille is your oyster, and the main sights and shops are within easy walking distance of each other.

You’ll be sampling the exquisite French patisseries and enjoying the warming aroma of the freshly baked baguettes, wafting from the boulangeries in no time.

The art deco styled Le Carnot Café & Brasserie in Lille.
Le Carnot Café & Brasserie
A candid shot of women enjoying beer at outside a café in Lille.
Beer anyone?

Lille is located in the northern Hauts-de-France region; therefore, it has gained influences from its Flemish Belgium neighbours across the border.

One of the reasons I love visiting France is that you get a strong sense of the true essence of where you are. These regional variances are often what makes any country.

With Lille, it has embraced the Flemish culture that is knocking on their doorstep.

Sitting in the bars and cafés, you peer around, and you see that so many locals are enjoying a beer instead of the cheeky glass of wine that is partaken in many other French regions.

You’ll also notice that on many menus, there will be a Carbonnade flamande as the plat du jour. This is a Flemish dish primarily made with beef and beer. It’s win, win, really, well perhaps not for everyone.

Where to stay in Lille

Grand Hotel Bellevue - Grand Place
We stayed at the Grand Hotel Bellevue - Grand Place. A fabulous hotel, and ideally placed close to the town centre.

I love nothing more than planning a trip through France and so often I use the DK Eyewitness books.  I find them extremely informative, easy to follow and the pictures and maps tempt you into discovering more.

We used a previous version of this book to plan our French road trips, now you can grab the revised copy.

DK France Cover

Exploring French Flanders

Around the old town
There was no time for dilly-dallying over lunch. Gary, and I took to the streets. We strolled around the old town, admiring the elegant buildings and enjoyed window shopping in charming boutiques along the narrow cobblestoned lanes.
The scene of cafes that line the edges of Place Charles de Gaulle in Lille, northern France, underneath beautiful ornate buildings with the town's Clock tower in the background
Place Charles de Gaulle
We love history and architecture, so visiting Lille ticked so many boxes for us.
Architectural details including balconies and window surrounds in Lille, Northern France
Detailed architecture throughout the Old Town
Within the Grand Place are some incredible buildings, all shapes and sizes, rubbing shoulders with each other. The 17th-century Vieille Bourse (Old Stock Exchange), built between 1652 and 1653, is particularly eye-catching.
Lille's Old Stock Exchange with the Belfry of the Chamber of Commerce in the background.
The Vieille Bourse or Old Stock Exchange

Also, La Voix du Nord (Voice of the North) is a regional daily newspaper within Lille's Grand Place.

La Voix du Nord was one of the underground newspapers founded in France during the German occupation in World War II. The paper first appeared in Lille in April 1941.

The Column of the Goddess of the Place du Charles de Gaulle at dusk under a blue sky.
Colonne de la Déesse
The 'La Voix du Nord' offices in Lille at dusk.
La Voix du Nord
Taking pride of place in the centre of Place du Charles de Gaulle stands the ‘Column of the Goddess’. This commemorates Lille's resistance to the Austrian siege in 1792.

Have you seen?

If you’re travelling through France keep a lookout for 12 of France’s incredible UNESCO World Heritage Sites, you may want to add some of these to your trip.
Featured image for “12 UNESCO Sites to visit in France”
May. 10, 2019

12 UNESCO Sites to visit in France

A walk around Lille

Place du Théâtre

Strolling further around the Old Town, you’ll be sure to head towards the Place du Théâtre. This is another stylish, elegant square, and you’ll instantly be drawn to the Opéra de Lille.

This beautiful neo-classical opera house has been designed with Belle Époque detail on the front, and it is so striking.

The Opera was built between 1907 and 1913, and internal and external renovations have occurred since, the last of which was completed in 2004.

The Opéra de Lille in Place du Théâtre next to Belfry of the Chamber of Commerce in Lille.
The Opéra de Lille

There are so many colourful buildings in Place du Théâtre, and one that is very prominent and can be seen for miles is the Chamber of Commerce and its Belfry.

The Chamber of Commerce in Place du Théâtre was built between 1910 and 1921 in the neo-Flemish style. The belfry stands at around 250 feet (76 metres) high and is decorated with four clock faces.

The Belfry of the Chamber of Commerce in Lille.
Belfry on the Chamber of Commerce
The Belfry of the Chamber of Commerce in Lille at dusk.
Belfry on the Chamber of Commerce at dusk

Lille has experienced some turbulent times over the centuries, and in 1792 the Austrians invaded. Their artillery destroyed many houses around the city during the eight days of the siege; however, Lille didn’t surrender.

On the building opposite the Chamber of Commerce, you can still see Austrian black cannonballs lodged into the side of the wall.

A shot of a building in Place du Théâtre, including the shop Morel & Fils, that still has the cannonballs lodge in the wall from the siege of Lille.
Building in Place du Théâtre with Cannonballs in the wall

Discover more

If you want to find out more about Lille’s history and updates on events in the city, then have a browse through the Lille Tourism website.

While in Lille, why not catch a performance at Opéra de Lille?

A little more Lille

Strolling the streets

The construction of Lille Cathedral first started in 1854. However, due to disputes, lack of money, and wars, the cathedral wasn’t fully completed until nearly 150 years later, in 1999.

The Cathédrale de la Treille has a mixture of styles, including neo-gothic. However, what makes it so eye-catching is the white marble within the modern façade.

The modern facade of the Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille Cathedral in Lille.
Lille Cathedral

Take a wander further around the city, and you’ll find some other lovely spots, particularly around Lille’s parks.

If time allows, you can also visit a citadel and zoo.

A large canal boat on the Deûle River around the Citadel and Lille Zoo.
Deûle River around the Citadel and zoo

La Braderie (flea market)

If you love rummaging around flea markets, you’ll need to book early. On the first weekend of September, Lille hosts an annual Braderie. It is the largest flea market in Europe and attracts over two million visitors, in one weekend.

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      Reply

      Thank you very much.

      Lille is a really charming city, I love the differences that you see within each region of France and with Lille being so close to Belgium you certainly see the influences.

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