Start your sightseeing in Lille-Centre, the heart of the city, at the...

Grand'Place

Officially the Place du Général-de-Gaulle, this impressive square at the heart of historic Lille (map) is marked by the Column of the Goddess (Colonne de la Déesse, 1845) and bordered by the sumptuous Vieille Bourse, the Théâtre du Nord, and numerous shops and restaurants.

Column of the Goddess

The 15.51-meter (51-foot) Colonne de la Déesse (1845) commemorates the lifting of the siege of Lille by the Austrian army in 1792. The surround of the fountain at its base is a popular sitting-area for Lilleois all day and into the night.

La Vieille Bourse

The sumptuously-decorated Old Stock Exchange building, formerly the headquarters of the Lille Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is the jewel of the Grand'Place, with its elaborate Flemish-Renaisance architectural detail and gilded accents. Built in 1652-53 when Lille was ruled by Philip IV of Spain, the Bourse was meant to rival that of Antwerp.

Place du Théâtre

Just northeast of the Grand'Place, behind La Vieille Bourse, the irregularly-shaped Place du Théâtre does indeed feature the monumental Opéra de Lille, as well as several shops, restaurants and cafés.

Palais Rihour

Not much is left of the Palais Rihour built by the Dukes of Valois-Burgundy in the 14th century, but what there is, you'll get to see if you visit Lille's Office de Tourisme, as the office is located in what's left of the palace. Located in the Place Rihour, you'll recognize the building by the large stone war memorial on its north side.

Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille

Maison Natale de Charles de Gaulle

Palais de Beaux-Arts

Porte de Paris

Beffroi de l'Hôtel de Ville

Porte de Roubaix

Parks & Gardens

Jardin botanique de la Faculté de Pharmacie, Jardin botanique Nicolas Boulay, Jardin des Plantes de Lille)

---

Lille Local Transport Hotels in Lille About Lille Transport in France Tourist Information Dunkirk Calais Northern France