The Grand Place de Lille has long been the crossroads of all travellers. In its centre lies the column of the Goddess since 1845. A symbol of the city, this lady was designed by the sculptor Théophile Bra and represents the courage of a woman who defends herself against invaders, with a firearm in her hand. The buildings around this monumental square represent a faithful panorama of Lille’s architecture between the 17th and 20th centuries.
The Grand-Place of Brussels, whose first mentions date back to the 12th century, gathers around a paved marketplace, rectangular in shape, with emblematic buildings of the municipal and ducal powers and the old guild houses.
Located about 30 minutes from Lille by high-speed train, Brussels’ eclectic architecture, a skilful blend of history and modernism, is impressive.
The Euralille district is THE business district of Lille. Located between the historic city centre and the suburbs of Lille, it offers a multitude of services. Adjacent to the Lille Flandres and Lille Europe train stations, new buildings are built every year and many of the country’s largest companies are located here.
A famous pastry shop in Old Lille, Pâtisserie Meert has been offering its traditional Madagascar vanilla waffles since the 18th century, a favourite pastry of General de Gaulle during his visits to his native city.
Try the delectable desserts at this shop located on the Esquermoise street!
The estaminets of Lille are a vivid testimony of the Flemish tradition. These typical northern breweries are the only ones of their kind in the world. They are places of local gastronomy and traditional games, strongholds of the Lille way of life.
To discover them, venture to the rue de Gand and Place aux Oignons! Order a “carbonnade flamande” with french fries and you won’t be disappointed!
Constructed in the 17th century in the purest Flemish Mannerist style, flamboyant and exuberant, it is the visible testimony of the strong economic and commercial activity of the city of Lille in the 17th century. From the top of its bell tower, Mercury, the god of trade, looks down on the visitors. Today, the Vieille Bourse has become the place to be for chess players, booksellers and florists.
