Lille lies close to the Belgian border and is a cultural hub of western Europe. It is the largest city in the north of France and was formerly a merchant city that owes its wealth to the fact that it lies between Flanders and Paris. With a lively university community, the city sports a vibrant outlook with many cute cafes, restaurants, spacious public squares, and a thriving nightlife. The historic center of Vieux Lille (Old City) is known for its Renaissance-era buildings, Flemish roots, and French artworks, along with stylish shopping avenues. Lille is a dynamic city with plenty of things to see and do. It is one of the most vibrant, energetic, and certainly puts it among the best France tourist places to visit. We have curated a list of things that you can do in Lille if you have only one day in the city. You can also book a rental car to see more places on a restricted schedule.
Wander through the Old Lille
Lille’s old town is a delight to explore, with restored bourgeois, stone houses on cobblestone streets. You will notice the city’s Flemish influence on architecture dating to the 17th and 18th centuries. Old Lille is home to many attractions and landmarks such as the Opera House, the Old Stock Exchange building, and the birthplace of Charles de Gaulle. Stroll through the old city looking up at the decorative facades and gables. The town is a dynamic area with many bars and congenial nightspots. Get lost in a maze of narrow, winding streets, which host a lively scene of estaminets – small bars in the local dialect – restaurants and boutiques.
Check out Opéra De Lille
Explore Place du Theatre, where you can find Lille’s grand Neo-classical Opera House, officially inaugurated in 1923. It is one of the popular landmarks to see in Lille. The architecture of the Opera’s exterior is pretty impressive, which has been designed originally by Lille architect Michael Joseph Lequeux, but later redesigned by multiple architects. Even if you do not wish to catch the performance, the building’s facade is pretty impressive to admire.
Explore The Grand Place
Upon your arrival at Lille, one of the first attractions that you will see is Place Charles de Gaulle, Commonly called the Grand Place, which sits just northeast of the city center. This lively square in Lille Old Town is surrounded by a mix of historical and modern buildings is one of the favorite meeting spots in the city. The Grand Place spans over 10,000 sq m and features one of the city landmarks and a fountain with the Column of the Goddess. It is an ideal spot to immerse into the vibes of the city. From here, you can also easily explore the entry city of French Flanders. On clear days, the outdoor terraces of bars and restaurants settled on the square offer pleasant people-watching spots while sipping a locally brewed beer.
Admire Impressive Artworks at Palais des Beaux-Arts
Established in a lavish Belle Époque-style building in 1892, the Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille is behind only the Louvre for size. The Lille Palace of Fine Arts – houses impressive collections of paintings, sculptures, and drawings from Antiquity from the 1400s up to the 1900s. One of the largest fine arts museums in France, it’s home to masterpieces such as Belisarius begging for alms, Olga in fur collar, and Medea, to name a few. There are many works present by Monet, Raphael, Pablo Picasso, Gustave Courbet, Rubens, van Gogh, Eugene Delacroix, Donatello, and Jacob Jordaens. You have to buy the entrance ticket for entry, which includes an audio guide. There is also a gift shop, and a restaurant is available on-site worth checking out.
Visit Notre Dame de la Treille Cathedral
Visit Notre Dame de la Treille Cathedral, located in the heart of Lille. You can step into the extraordinary scenery of gothic architecture for free of cost. Sounds amazing right? With colorful stained-glass windows, the interiors have some amazing artwork.
Its foundations were laid back in 1854 as the 13th-century gothic style building. The work on the cathedral was done by many architects, therefore it is now an interesting mix of gothic architecture and contemporary art. The front of the cathedral was made with marble slabs that take the color of the sun streaming through, and it was designed by the same person who planned the Pompidou Centre in Paris.
Head to Musée de l’Hospice Comtesse
If you are curious to know about local architecture, then Musee de l’Hospice Comtesse is a must-see. This museum is a great example of local architecture, hidden behind the shops and small streets but worth visiting. The museum was founded by the Countess of Flanders in 1237, as a charitable gesture to poor and sick people, but now it has been transformed into a museum with many Flemish paintings and Lille tapestries. You can also visit the sickbay and the kitchens, and the chapel.
Climb up Beffroi de Lille
104 meters high Beffroi de Lille or Belfry is the symbol of Lille and also a must-see attraction in the city. You can climb over 100 steps to the top of the Belfry and cherish the 360-degree panoramic view of the city. This UNESCO heritage site is also the highest viewpoint in Lille. On a clear day, you can see the mountains of Flanders and the valley of the Lys from the top of the belfry tower. Try to buy a ticket online to avoid long queues and save a few bucks.
See Lille Citadelle
The Lille Citadel is located in the center of a big park and is still a French military base. You can not enter it, but you can admire the building from afar, walk around its high walls, and the various gates. The star-shaped citadel was completed in three years after Louis XIV conquered Lille in 1667. It was designed by none other than Vauban, the famed military engineer who left his mark all across France at this time.
Did you know that it took three million stone blocks, 70,000 lumps of sandstone, and 60 million bricks to build this Citadelle?
You can also visit the Lille Zoo, located in the same park as Citadelle, and so is a fairground for kids.