Lille is a lively, pleasant city with a very interesting cultural heritage. Its partly pedestrianized town center makes it ideal for strolling.

Lille is one of those cities I’ve often visited on business, for a few hours or even a day, but never taking the time to linger. This long weekend was therefore an opportunity to remedy this shortcoming, with a plan to get out of town and visit museums in Roubaix and Villeneuve d’Ascq.

But not everything went exactly to plan…

You’ll find all the articles about this stay in Lille at the bottom of the page.

• Henri Matisse Park
• Hospice Comtesse Museum
• Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille Cathedral, Lille
• The Grand Place
• Saint-Etienne Church
• The Palace of Fine Arts, Lille
• The Town Hall
• Old Lille
• Outside the city
• Bottom line
• The articles about this stay in Lille

Henri Matisse Park

For a smooth start (or finish). 8 hectares of greenery to relax in the town center.

Hospice Comtesse Museum

This former hospital was originally built in the 13th century, but the building was completely destroyed by fire, the last one in 1649.

Gradually rebuilt since the 15th century, it became a hospice after the French Revolution, then a museum after 1962. It presents the social and cultural life of Lille in the 17^th and 18^th centuries, as well as temporary exhibitions.

Unfortunately, during my visit, a hack on the town hall’s servers prevented payment by credit card. I told myself I’d come back later after I’d drawn some cash, but things worked out so that I wouldn’t be coming back.

Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille Cathedral, Lille

Construction of this neo-Gothic cathedral began in 1856 and was completed in…1999! The reason for this was financial difficulties, which meant that it had to be built in stages, with several generations of architects in succession.

This explains the very modern facade, whereas the original plan was for something more classical: two towers surrounding a rose window.

I wasn’t able to visit it as much as I would have liked, as a service was taking place when I was there.

The Grand Place

Also known as Place Charles de Gaulle, this is Lille’s most emblematic site. Most of the buildings along the way are listed historic monuments, and at its center stands the Column of the Goddess (1845), a tribute to the heroism of the people of Lille during the Prussian siege of the city in 1792.

Saint-Etienne Church

This is an 18th-century Baroque church. I wasn’t able to visit it as much as I would have liked, as a service was taking place during my visit.

It is a museum of art and antiquities, and the largest Fine Arts museum in France outside Paris in terms of works on display.

Unsurprisingly, it is characterized by its collections of Dutch and Flemish painters. But I did manage to find a few impressionists…

It was also impossible to pay by credit card, but at least I had cash this time…

The Town Hall

It is best known for its UNESCO World Heritage-listed belfry.

Old Lille

Generally speaking, Lille offers a picturesque pedestrian-only city center, where it’s pleasant to stroll around or enjoy a drink on a terrace.

Outside the city

If you have a car or are prepared to take public transport (bus in one case, train in the other), it’s essential to visit the LAM ( Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art) in Villeneuve d’Ascq and La Piscine (another museum…on the premises of a former swimming pool) in Roubaix.

Unfortunately, the weather deterred me and, having had a string of tourist weekends in recent weeks, I was starting to run out of steam and motivation.

A regret…but it’s a good opportunity to return, isn’t it?

Bottom line

A very pleasant visit spoiled by imponderables: sites I didn’t visit because they didn’t accept credit cards, religious monuments occupied by services when I passed by, the weather…and a bit of fatigue.

I wasn’t able to do everything I wanted, but I’m still very satisfied with my stay and the visits I didn’t make are just reasons to come back another time.

The articles about this stay in Lille

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