Yes, Lille is a very beautiful city. Actually, it is famous for its beauty more than anything, but it still offers a lot of amazing attractions for tourists. The city is moderate in size and is located in the Nord-Pas de Calais region of France. It is located just opposite the border between France and Belgium.
Although the city is a moderately sized city by European standards, it is still the fifth largest center in France. Therefore, tourists can fly into the conveniently located Lille Lesquin International Airport. However, due to the convenience of the European rail system, traveling here by train is also fast and efficient.
There are many landmarks in the city. Most of these are close to the Lille city center hotels which are located in the center of the city. The following highlights of Lille’s central landmarks can be seen below.
– The Opera is a magnificent site located in the eastern part of the center of Lille. What is that you say? Not a fan of opera? That’s fine, as the building itself is worth a look, and if tourists like to go to the opera, then it’s just an added bonus.
– The Museum of Fine Arts is one of the best art galleries and museums on the entire European continent. Without a doubt, the museum is part of the main tourist sites of the city. In the museum you can find works of art from the 15th century to the 20th century, all over Europe. The palace building that contains the museum is also worth visiting.
– Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the most beautiful structures in the city. It is a magical cathedral, but it looks somewhat different from other cathedrals in France because of its more modern façade. However, the interior of the church is simply impressive.
– La Vieille Bourse is located between two of the largest squares in the center of Lille. It was built in the year 1653 and contains a series of terraces, houses and brick buildings, not to mention a beautiful courtyard that regularly hosts a famous used book market.
– The Vieux Lille region of the city is the old town and is home to some of the structures mentioned above, including the Notre Dame Cathedral. Visitors don’t really need to go anywhere or do anything spectacular when they are there, except wander the cobbled streets and soak up the phenomenal atmosphere.
– One of the largest squares in the city is Place Rihor, which also contains the beautiful Palais Rihor. A tourist information center is located within the square, not to mention dozens of restaurants and historic houses to experience.
– The largest square in the city by far is the Place du Generale de Gaulle. It is commonly known as the Grand Place. With a beautiful fountain, a statue and some magnificent buildings of neo-Flemish design, the Grand Place is definitely one of the most important tourist sites to explore in the center of Lille.
– Do you feel like swimming? No, just kidding, but there is a pool located in the center of the city that no longer fills with water. Now it’s full of magical works of art in the aptly named La Piscine Museum, or Musee d’Art et d’Industrie de Roubaix.
– Including a beautiful park and one of the best zoos in the northern part of France, the Citadelle is an old fortress that has been attracting visitors for many decades. It’s quite a fascinating design, built like a five-pointed star.