Lille was something of an industrial city until the arrival of the Eurostar terminal, and the fact that it was awarded the European Capital of Culture in 2004. Now, the city is transformed and restored. There's a bustling arts scene, several galleries, and the nightlife in the city is beginning to take off in a big way.
The city's broadly centred around 3 main squares - Place du Theatre, Place Rihour (where you'll find the tourist office) and Place du General de Gaulle, which is known as the Grand Place.
Main Tourist Sights
The main things to tick off your list, if you're feeling cultural, are the Palais des Beaux Arts and the Musee d'Art Moderne - Lille's two premier galeries. There's also the Vieille Bourse, which is the city's 17th century Stock Exchange building if you fancy a bit of architecture to gaze at, or for the more modern, commercial-driven individual, there's always the vast EuroLille Mall, adjacent to the Eurostar Terminal.
Our advice would be to just take a wander through the main squares and back streets of Old Lille, where there are some lovely sights to be seen, and where a restorative beer in a café is never far away!
