You’d expect that Charles de Gaulle, the ultimate French General, would have been born in a city that was a bit more, shall we say, French… Lille has been conquered by more than a few rulers, been occupied in both World Wars (but managed to avoid most of the effects of the French Revolution) and is now an industrial city at the heart of one of the biggest metropolitan areas in the country, but its character is decidedly mixed.
Belgian, Spanish, Dutch, French… All these cultures have held sway over this traditional Flemish city at one time or another. Lille could have been a city with a bit of an identity crisis, but instead the fusion of its history has held well, and the eclectic mix of distinct architectural styles makes it a unique showcase of the patrons who’ve left their mark.
In the post-war years Lille found itself a center of the textile industry, a craft the city has been known for since its origin. Perhaps due to its location bordering two countries, one of the largest student populations is also found here, making it an important educational center. The trades of 21st century Lille are becoming more technology based and the resulting wealth means there’s been some dusting and sweeping done around the place, making the city more inviting than ever.
Highlights
Place du General de Gaulle: the city’s main square, renamed after its most well known citizen stands out as a particularly Flemish locale.
Fine Arts Museum: one advantage to the mixing of two cultures is that the Fine Arts Museum is full of excellent examples of not only French masterpieces, but works from the Low Countries as well.
La Vieille Bourse: this showy building was built by the Spanish when they controlled the Netherlands and is the place where the town’s famous textiles were traded.
The VAL: To mention the metro as an attraction may seem like a long shot, were it not for the fact that all the trains run automatically, with no drivers.