Lille

Lille is a city in northern France, near the border with Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the Hauts-de-France region, and the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country. With a population of over 227,000 inhabitants, it is the largest city in the northern half of France.

Lille is known for its beautiful historic old town, where attics and roofs, squares and alleys, old monumental buildings, churches, and fountains create a unique atmosphere. The amusement park of Mini-Europe is also a great attraction, along with the Museum of Fine Arts, which features works by great European painters such as Rubens, Titian and Seurat. Lille’s old town center is home to a range of cafés, shops and restaurants that cater to all kinds of tastes. There are a great number of pubs, bars and clubs all over the city, that host live music performances and disco nights. The Furet du Nord book store is one of the biggest bookstore chains in France, and is a must-visit for any bibliophile. The seasonal Lille market is renowned for its artisanal food and handicraft products, with hundreds of stalls selling everything from French terroir products to Indian spices and West African fabrics. Lille is also a great place for shopping. The rue de Béthune and the Wazemmes Marketplace are the two main shopping areas in the city, where you can find all kinds of clothing, accessories and more.