LILLE
Area: Cities
Country: France


Location:
At the N tip of France near the Belgian border. 58 miles SE of Calais; 140 miles N of Paris. 5 miles N of local airport (national flights only). Nearest international airport is Brussels, 82 miles.

Telephone code from UK:
33

Website:
http://www.lilletourism.com

Position:
A flat landscape of fields lined by poplars, willows and canals.

Description:
Lille has mushroomed from a town of white-walled farmhouses to become the economic capital of N France. Motorways connect to the neighbouring textile town of Roubaix (7 miles), Belgium, the French coast and the interior, making it the crossroads for trade by road and waterways. Within an outlying manufacturing zone (textiles, food processing, computer technology, automobiles), a ring road encloses a picturesque city of tree-lined avenues, spacious squares and wide, cobbled pedestrian streets. Lille's rich architectural and cultural past is evident from the central Grande Place General de Gaulle (born in Lille, his house today a museum) with the ornate, 17th-century Old Stock Exchange and one of the biggest bookshops in the world. Also eye-catching are the opera house, the towering New Stock Exchange, a 17th-century citadel and the town hall. In the cobbled, meandering streets of the old town _ considerably and constantly restored _ chic shops, antique dealers and trendy restaurants occupy the ground floors of charming Flemish mansions of soft red brick and sculpted sandstone. Lille's 215,000 inhabitants include a large student population.

Suitability:
Makes a good alternative to Paris (an hour away by train) for those who want a more low-key atmosphere. All ages and budgets. Many visitors are from SE England, staying for a weekend or a few days.

Accommodation:
More than 100 hotels, most within ­ mile of the Grande Place General de Gaulle. More traditional, renovated, provincial comfort available than state-of-the-art sleek; some budget accommodation and several campsites. Because of the excellent transport system, it is possible to stay somewhere quieter and possibly cheaper out of the city and travel into the centre when the mood takes you.

Shopping:
Almost everything you would find in Paris exists in miniature, with a range of art galleries, antique shops and boutiques. The shopping centre of Euralille has 140 boutiques and a hypermarket. Each quarter has its own market. The large Wazemmes market is open Tuesdays and Thursdays, but Sunday is the main day. There is also a flea, book, flower and pet market. The French chain Sephora is good for reasonably priced beauty products and cosmetics and unusual gifts. A complex of 65 factory shops at l'Usine.

Entertainments:
Daytime: fine old buildings, such as the Old Stock Exchange and 15th-century palace, churches, natural history museum and an interesting beaux-arts museum housing one of France's biggest national art collections. Lovely public gardens with a zoo. Good sports facilities. Taxi tours around town in four languages. Nightlife: orchestral concerts, ballet, opera, modern dance, theatre, cabarets, beer tasting. Cafes on main squares. The large student population means there is a lively club scene, and bars do not shut until 2 am. Incredibly, there is free entry to all discos in the city which play music from traditional rock to techno.

Eating:
More than 2,500 eating establishments, from smart French and Flemish restaurants and brasseries to cafes and creperies. Many have pavement seating year-round, which will cost you more but it's usually worth it for atmosphere and people-watching. Mussels and "french fries" appear on most menus, and are best washed down with one of the many Belgian beers. Set menus are particularly good value. Local dishes include "Waterzooi" _ poached chicken or fish in a cream sauce; "Carbonade" _ beef slowly stewed with onions in beer; numerous cheeses, some of them spiced.

Public-transport:
Efficient and reasonably priced, with a good bus and tram system and a superb underground, the first fully automated system in the world. A day ticket allows unlimited travel. Plentiful taxis. A TGV station serves French and European cities.

Local-excursions:
Modern art museum in the suburb of Villeneuve-d'Ascq. Trips to Dunkirk, Paris, Belgium and Holland. Visits to breweries.