Top Rated Attractions in Lille

Formerly known as the La Piscine-Musée d'Art et d'Industrie André Diligent, La Piscine de Roubaix derives its name from the building it is housed in, which was once an indoor swimming pool. The museum retains most of the original decor, with changes made to the entrance and an added garden and exhibition space. Dedicated to contemporary and industrial art with a special allocation for sculptures, the museum features some of the greatest works by renowned artists from around the world.

The Vieille Bourse (Old Stock Exchange), built in 1653, has been fully renovated and is one of the most beautiful buildings in Lille. Originally built in Flemish baroque architecture to serve as a symbol of the market town of Lille, it now encompasses a secondhand bookstore and flower shops. As you wander through this enchanting building, you'll find many old books of all genres: novels, scientific books, textbooks, graphic novels, post cards, etc. This place is unique, thanks to both its site and to its incredible variety of ancient works on sale, and so it provides the perfect backdrop for a trip into the past. A real gem!

Vieux Lille or Old Town is located in the north of the city. It is a well known tourist destination and contains many famous buildings dating back to the 17th Century. The buildings comprise of brick and stone. Walk past the structures here and take in their architectural brilliance one at a time. Many food outlets, bars and restaurants are located in the vicinity.

Each and every small commune and town in France is filled with castles, wine estates and art museums and Villeneuve-D'Ascq is no exception to this. The Musée d'Art Moderne Lille Métropole also known as Musée d'Art moderne de Villeneuve-d'Ascq is an important museum of this commune. Set-up in 1983, it houses artworks of great and renowned artists like Picasso and Calder. It also comprises collections donated by Roger Dutilleul and Jean Masurel. You can check the works of artists from different eras, each representing a particular art movement.

Lille's first Opera House, built in 1875 by Michel Lequeux, a native of Lille, was destroyed by fire in 1903. To replace the neoclassicism of the destroyed edifice, Cordonnier suggested a style that was decidedly Louis XVI, with an interior decoration as sumptuous as its outward appearance. The building was inaugurated in 1923, with Massenet, Lalo and Bizet on the program. Notice the high contours at the summit of the building depicting Apollo and his Muses, by Hippolyte Lefébvre, an allegory of Music, one of Alphonse Cordonnier's works on the left. On the other side, enjoy tragedy by the sculptor Lemaire.

Started in 1924 and completed in 1932, Beffroi de Lille follows the most traditional examples of belfries in the middle ages. Designed by the architect, Emile Dubuisson, in a neo-flemish style, it conveys all of its grandeur onto the town hall. Reaching 105 meters in height, it scrapes the Northern sky and reveals an exceptional panorama, a view which stretches as far as the Flanders Mountains. Climb the steps to see the horizon. After descending, or before making the climb, you can cross the immense interior of the town hall and appreciate the works of contemporary artists which are displayed there.