City · France · Hauts-de-France
Lille
Flemish-flavoured northern city with a grand square, great markets and quick Eurostar links.
For storytellers
Why Lille matters
Lille feels half French, half Flemish, with gabled brick buildings, big beers and generous portions. The old town has been polished into a lovely maze of cobbled streets and boutiques. It is a quick train ride from Paris, Brussels and London.
Talking points
- The Grand Place is the city's living room.
- Its art museum is one of the biggest outside Paris.
- Every September a huge flea-market weekend takes over the streets.
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What to see in Lille
Festival or event
Braderie de Lille
Lille, France
Huge flea market that takes over Lille in early September.
Museum
Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille
Lille, France
One of France's major fine-art museums outside Paris.
Historic site
Citadelle de Lille
Lille, France
Star-shaped 17th-century fortress, now surrounded by parkland.
Also nearby
Within about 40 km, closest first.