Lille is the capital of the Nord department in the Hauts-de-France region in northern France. Located along the banks of the Deule River, near the border between France and Belgium, Lille is one of the oldest cities in the world. It is also the fourth largest city in France, after Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Unlike the hustle and bustle of Paris or Cannes, Lille has a peaceful, gentle beauty thanks to its ancient neighborhoods, mixed with modern life like a cup of milk coffee on the boulevard in the early morning.
The people of Lille are not as fashionable as those in Paris, but much more friendly and lovable. This city is a treasure trove of carefully preserved heritage, and its cultural life is extremely rich. With countless historical buildings, museums, monuments, parks, flower gardens, shopping areas... everywhere is worth visiting, worth seeing, so Lille always surprises visitors with delight.
The first place to visit when coming to Lille is the Grand Square or the full name is Charles de Gaulle Square. This is a giant square, surrounded by ancient buildings from the Renaissance with very impressive architecture, and is the entrance to the old town in the heart of Lille. From the train station, it only takes about 10 or 15 minutes to walk to the Grand Square.
There are many cafes on the square. You can stop and recharge, then explore the city. Café de Foy is popular with French tourists, where you can have coffee, orange juice and toast with jam for 4.50 EUR - less than 150,000 VND. Or you can stop by 6 Place Rihour. This is a side street on the side of the Grand Place, with many cafes with typical outdoor seating, and when winter comes, visitors will be given blankets, so they can cover up and enjoy hot coffee in the cold weather.
During your trip to France in Lille, if you are a book lover, you should take the time to visit Furet du Nord at 15 Place Charles de Gaulle. This is a giant bookstore - one of the largest in Europe. Not only does it sell French books, it also has English books and small handmade items for visitors to buy as gifts.
The nearby old town of Lille is also a destination that you cannot miss. The ancient beauty of the old town stands out with Baroque houses typical of the 17th - 18th centuries, winding cobblestone streets and many unique restaurants and cafes. Sipping a cup of coffee, watching the peaceful streets of Lille is also a wonderful experience.
To spice up your trip, visit the Lille flea market (Grande Braderie de Lille) to discover French culture and products. Items sold mainly include books, old records, vintage porcelain, antique silver, clothes, jewelry, handicrafts and artworks. In addition, you can also enjoy many street foods such as mussels, fries, grilled fish and other regional specialties.
If you are a lover of classical architecture, the Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Treille in Lille is an ideal destination. The basilica began construction in 1854 but was not completed until 1999. From the outside, you can see a 30-meter-high marble archway and an impressive iron statue of the Virgin Mary. Inside, there are ancient structures and are lavishly decorated, luxurious but still solemn.
Inside the Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Treille is a very detailed and delicate sculpture in every line. This is also a very sacred place of prayer for the French and you do not need to pay any fee to visit. On a late autumn day, visit the basilica, and pray sincerely, or just to feel lighter before the sad stories of old time.
Lille is a historic city, which began to appear around 640 but was not on the map until 1054. As the name suggests, Lille means island, because Lille was originally just a small island, then developed into a seaport and until today Lille has developed into a city of culture, art and commerce.
If you want to spend time enjoying the cultural and artistic life in Lille, you can go to the Palais des Beaux Museum, one of the largest museums in France, built around the 19th century, to admire the famous works of Monet, Raphael or van Gogh; and the Grand Theatre of Lille was built during World War I, designed by architect Louis-Marie Cardonnier in the style of opera houses popular in France and Monte Carlo, with a capacity of 1,136 spectators per show. The outside of the theater is carved with beautiful and elaborate motifs, making it impossible for visitors to ignore.
Stepping inside the vast space leaves many French tourists overwhelmed. The atmosphere is filled with a very unique antiquity and elegance, only found in France. This Grand Theatre is the venue for the largest concerts in the city of Lille. Spend a weekend night, immersing yourself in the melodies of piano and symphony orchestra, or immerse yourself in a soulful opera from famous artists.
Besides, French tourists also cannot "resist" the charm of shopping centers. As expected of one of the largest cities in France, in harmony with modern life, Lille concentrates many shopping areas, some areas also have outdoor markets serving tourists to enjoy shopping with a reasonable "budget", on holidays like Christmas the prices are even more attractive. In addition, there are antique shops, art galleries and many impressive international chains that also make tourists empty their pockets.
An experience not to be missed when coming to France in general and Lille in particular is cuisine. From street stalls to luxury restaurants, Lille has no shortage of rich and diverse dishes that can satisfy the most demanding diners such as carbonnade (beef stew, flavored with mustard and brown sugar), pain chocalate (chocolate bread), waffles, merveilleux (ice cream rolled in crushed chocolate, usually sold in boxes of 6 flavors including coffee, dark chocolate, white chocolate, cherry and hazelnut praline)...
France not only has vibrant cities, fashion capitals or bustling shopping centers, but also a peaceful, romantic Lille with many interesting things that not everyone knows and can discover. Away from the flashy Paris, the luxurious Cannes, Lille is a bit gentle and peaceful for tourists to explore in late autumn and early winter, to enjoy the classic French style in France.
More information
Trip:Lille Lesquin International Airport is about 11 km from the city center. There are many airlines operating flights from Vietnam to Lille such as: United Airlines, Air France...
From Paris, if you take the train to Lille, it will take 20 to 30 minutes, the round trip ticket will cost about 22 EUR (650,000 VND). If you want to save more, you can take the bus, which costs only 5 EUR (150,000 VND), but takes more than 3 hours.
Time:Lille is most beautiful in spring and autumn. The peak tourist season here is autumn, around September and October every year. Especially in September because this is the time of the Braderie fair, which attracts about 2 million visitors each year. So if you want to save money, you should go in spring, around March to May every year.
Move:For convenience in visiting the city, you can travel by taxi, train, subway or bus.
Accommodation:In Lille there are many hotels, motels and homestays with average prices ranging from 70 - 100 EUR (2,000,000 - 3,000,000 VND)/room/night.
