Top 10 interesting things to do in Lille


 

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Lille is one of those towns that will take you back to the 17th century. It has old buildings, cobbled streets, and a central square, with amazing views and activities. Lille is the capital if Hauts-de-France, it is a town full of vibrant culture and personality. Lille was conquered by King Louise XIV from the Spanish Dutch in 1667 and became French. It is also the fifth-largest city in France.

Here are ten exciting things to do in this enchanting town called Lille!

1. visit Palais des Beaux-Arts 

Image: Wikimedia Commons

The beautiful Palais des Beaux-Arts is a sight to behold. Like a building from a fairytale. The museum is one of the largest in France and has an amazing collection of art, antiques, and fine art. It was built by Napoleon I at the beginning of the 19th century as one of the first Museums in the country. The collection at this museum is rich and expansive; with collections from between the 16th and the 21st Century. The halls are exquisitely done, and when you enter the lobby, some 12,000 colored glass tiles in two chandeliers will welcome you to other collections by talented artists like Corot, Tissot, Donatello, Rembrandt, and Goya among others. Louvre of Lille as it is popularly known has works from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance has medals, ceramics, drawings, and paintings as well as antiquity.

2. Enjoy the cuisine 

Lille is a little town near the border of France and Belgium; on the French side, of course. The official language there is French, though some people speak Flemish or Picard also known as Chti. You can never visit a new place and not sample the local cuisine; and when in Lille, ask for the amazing and sumptuous Flemish stew called Carbonades Flamandes. French Macarons are a must-have! You are in France, after all, and of course the Dutch Stroopwafel. 

Image: Wikimedia Commons

3. Parc Zoologique 

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Parc Zoologique is a zoo, a few minutes away from the city center! No need to hire a car or take a bus for hours to see amazing wildlife when you are in the city of Lille! The three-acre zoo offers you the chance to interact with animals and it is divided into six thematic areas: exotic travel, African lands, tropics, island hoping, south American excursion, and Around the world! You, therefore, have a variety of things to enjoy in the zoo. Some of the few animals and birds include alpacas, the Malawi Chloropter, Macaw macaw, the Barnacle Bee, the Binturong, the Boa Constrictor, the Helmeted Chameleon, the Sun Conure. The You You of Senegal and hundreds of more species.

Never heard some of those names before? Now is your chance to find out. 

3. Pay LaM a visit!

Image: Wikimedia Commons

When one hears the word museum, one thinks of ancient paintings and art pieces; and there are many of those in France. LaM, however, is a modern museum located in Lille. The museum, with more than 6,700 art pieces from the 20th and 21st centuries started its operations and gained popularity around 1999 when a donation from L’Aracine was given to the museum. Now, it holds the largest collection of Art Brut works in France. Even though most pieces are modern, you will still get a few by Picasso, Paul Keen, Amedeo Modigliani, and Alexander Calder. The main ones however are by Henry Darger, Jacques Lipchitz, Carlo Zinelli, and Keen van Dongen as well. 

The museum is located just outside Lille, and will take you about 20 minutes to get there- Metro Line I will take you there. The museum is closed on Mondays, so you can visit there from Tuesdays to Sundays. 

4. Visit Villa Cavrois 

Image: Wikipedia

The Villa Cavrois is an architecture enthusiast’s dream. The villa was built in the 1930s but has such a modern look, you would be forgiven to think it is something from the 21st century. The villa belonged to textile industrialist Paul Cavrois and was an idea of Mallet-Stevens whose school of thought was of buildings to incorporate air, light, sports, hygiene, work, comfort, and efficiency. The building at the time of construction was so unique because it had things like electricity, intercoms, and air-conditioning which could only be thought of as futuristic at the time! The building is just a few minutes away from Lille and is definitely worth your time, and yes, you can take a tour.

5. Palais Rihour 

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Right in the middle of Lille is a gothic building that stands out. The Palais Rihuor belonged to the Duke of Burgundy in 1453. The enchanting building has the Lille Tourist Center on the ground floor and has space upstairs at the Salle du Conclave and the Sacristy which has amazing stained glass for events and exhibitions. The Christmas markets are also held at the front of the Palais every year. There are restaurants where you can eat some Carbonnade Flamade and other dishes. 

6. Marché de Wazemmes

Image: Wikimedia Commons

This is one of the largest outdoor markets in Northern France and is also one of the most loved ones. If you happen to be in Lille for a few days, it might interest you to know that the market is open Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday mornings. What can you find at the market you ask? Well everything from antiques, flowers, rotisserie chicken, exotic fruits and vegetables, and when you are tired from shopping, you can definitely catch a pint at nearby restaurants. 

The market is located at the Place Nouvelle Aventure, so it is not easy to miss. 

7. Citadel of Lille 

Image: Wikipedia

In Lille, there is a star-shaped garrison which if you have the time, is a must-visit. The garrison is open to the public for a guided tour and you can reserve to do that. It is a military base, which houses over 1,000 soldiers and was built by the order of Louis XIV, after the French troops took over the place from the Spanish in 1667.  

8. Maison Folie Wazemmes 

Image: Wikimapia

The Maison Folie Wazemes used to be a textile mill, one of the biggest in Lille. It is now used as a cultural center and has 19th Century architecture. It is now used for exhibition with more than 5,000 square meters for exhibitors to use. The building was built in 1855, and has been refurbished over time; in 2004, the Dutch architectural agency NOX gave it a facelift. 

The exhibitions done there include those done by artists, and performances. 

9. La Piscine Museum

Image: Wikimedia Commons

The La Piscine Museum is a definite visit when you are in Lille. You have to check out the exquisite art deco style with an indoor swimming pool, whose construction took six years and opened its doors in 1932. It however closed the swimming pool in 1985 as Jean-Paul Philippon, the Architect had to remodel it, finally opening its doors in 2000, complete with a modern entrance, beautiful art décor, a swimming pool, and a roofless garden, and an exquisite entrance. 

It is now used as an exhibition and exhibits an amazing collection of textiles made in Lille by many textile mills, dating back 1835! You can visit the museum on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. 

10. Go shopping at the Euralille!

Euralille
Image- Wikimedia Commons

The Euralille is less than a kilometer from the city center, a fabulous modern shopping center that will guarantee you a shop-till-you-drop experience. The area is close enough to the central business district, hotels, and many tourist locations and therefore you can get entertainment, a shopping experience, nice restaurants, and boutiques, in this area!

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