Ten centuries of history have left their mark on the city !

Classified as a city of "Art et Histoire" since 2004, Lille has conserved a large number of buildings and monuments, both secular and religious, which remain as signs of its illustrious past. These include the Citadelle park and fortress, a beautiful example of 17th century military architecture, designed by Vauban; the Vieille Bourse, a reminder of the Spanish occupation of the region as well as the marriage of the French and Flemish cultures; the Grand Place, focal point of life in Lille, with its "Déesse" statue, symbolising the resistance against the Austrians in 1792; the Porte de Paris; and also the rue de la Monnaie where coins were minted so many years ago…

Keep your eyes open and you will see sculpted angels adorning the façades of buildings, often made of pink brickwork and white stone, as well as carefully chiselled names and signs made by ancient craftsmen. The Palais Rihour, the former residence of the Dukes of Burgundy, was destroyed by fire in 1916. Today, there remains only a small part of the palace, which houses the Tourist Office.