Not only the capital of French Flanders but also of the new Region of Haut-de-France, this northern city on the River Deule and close to the border with Belgium has become an increasingly attractive city to visit in recent years due to a variety of factors.

Viewed for many years as simply an industrial centre with an attractive old town centre with a mix of French and Flemish Architecture, there is a recognition that things have changed economically and culturally.

Place General de Gaule

Better restaurants and a nightlife appropriate for a big, bustling city, a greater number of university students and exciting opportunities for retail therapy in the dynamic centre have all helped to change the City’s image. Now more of a cultural and communications hub at the heart of the European Union with a variety of tertiary industries having replaced the old heavy industries, Lille is a success story.