It is always hard to pick where to spend NYE, it is so much pressure, and I honestly can't figure out what is the point of the forced party everywhere around. Well, we initially thought to head to Italy and maybe explore Genoa and the mountains, but then as some friends had to work till the 30th we decided to stay closer to home and so selected Lille. Have a look at what we checked around.
We went to Lille for NYE and so I did not follow the normal organized approached that I usually have when I go somewhere, but this time, I simply tried to capture as much as possible in a sort of random way
The Train Station areaAccommodation:
Stayed at Citadines City Centre Ville Hotel which is located right next to the train station. The area itself looks far too industrial for my taste but you are 2 min walk from the center where everything changes
Porte de Roubaix
"the Porte de Gand was built by Pierre Raoul under the Spanish occupation. On its outward-facing side it lost its battlements and its decoration, but its severity recalls that walls and ramparts must above all impress potential enemies, and that Lille was then frequently an object of envy. It was in the 17th century that Vauban doubled the defensive elements whose remains can be seen in the gardens. The interior facade is more attractive, patterned with polychrome bricks and with a high roof and stone-framed windows." (Source)
Train Station: Le gare de Lille Flandres
"It is the main railway station of Lille, capital of French Flanders. It is a terminus for SNCF Intercity and regional trains.. [...] The station was built by Leonce Reynaud and Sydney Dunnett for the CF du Nord. Construction began in 1869 and ended in 1892. The station front is the old front from Paris' Gare du Nord and was dismantled then reassembled in Lille at the end of the 19th century; an extra storey, as well as a large clock, were added to the original design. Dunnett added the Hotel des Voyageurs in 1887, and the rooftop in 1892." (Source)
Streetart
Also spotted one of âMonsieur Chat designed :)
Saint Maurice Church
Grand Place
"Considered the second pretties grand place of France" (Source) "The Lillois' favorite meeting place offers an interesting view of the architecture from the 17th to the 20th century."(Source) .
Old Stock Exchange
I LOVE this building, I find it absolutely gorgeous. I guess you can see it as I took pictures from all angles :P
"It was built by Julien Destree in 1653 whose commission was to build an exchange to 'rival that of any great city'. [...] The result is a quandrangle of 24 privately purchased, ornately decorated yet identical houses surrounding an interior rectangular courtyard where trading could take place. [...] The wealth of Flemish Renaissance style decoration includes cute chubby cherubs, garlands and marks that frame the windows." (Source)
"The four entrances are marked with cornucopias, symbolic of wealth and happiness; Turkish turbanned heads tell of their Eastern markets and the Lions of Flanders signify that Lille once belonged to the Netherlands. Under the arcades there are medallions and tablets in honour of great men of science."(Source)
I just loved the architecture of this buildingDeesse statue
In the center of the square you can see the "Goddess commemorating Lille's resistance to the Austrian siege in 1792." (Source). "The sculptor responsible for the Goddess (built in 1845) was Theophile Bra from Douai, also responsible for the two bas-reliefs on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris."(Source)
Theatre du Nord.
"built in 1717 by Thomas Joseph Gombert" (source) it was "used to house soldiers from the sentry guard, it houses now the Theatre du Nord" (Source)
Theater Square
"The square appears off the Grand'Place and is named after a theatre that was destroyed by fire in 1903. In 1907" (Source)
Opera House
"Originally situated in the center of the town of Lille, the former theater was completely destroyed by a fire in 1903. So the town launched a competition for the construction of a new building. The famous architect, Louis-Marie Cordonnier's project was successful.[...] Inspired by the neoclassical style, at the time known as the "Grand Theater", the Lille opera house was situated on the Place du Theater. The construction was almost finished when the First World War broke out. The Germans took over the building and used it for many performances of works by German composers: Beethoven, Wagner, Mozart.... After this German interlude and renovations, the "Grand Theater" finally gave its first French performance in 1923!" (Source)
"On the facade is Apollo surrounded by his muses. To the left is a depiction of Amedee Cordonnier allegory of Music and on the right Tragedy by Hector Lemaire. (Source) The chamber of commerce
"The belfry is 76metres-high. It dominates the opera with its height. It is decorated with four clock faces. It is to note that the belfry has 25 bells that regularly ring northern typical songs like Le P'tit Quinquin." (Source)
Paul bakery
Paul again chose a wonderfully beautiful building to have it's bakery adding an extra class to their products .
Notre Dam de La Treille
"Few persons know that, but the cathedral of Lille looks like no other. A mix between gothic traditions and contemporary art, Notre-Dame de la Treille is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. " Works started 1854 due to lack of means "the building was completely achieved in 1999. Made with slabs that take the color orange with the sun, the front is over hanged by an original rose. Representing the death and the resurrection, the front is also decorated with surprising symbols like ufos, cosmonauts, the belfry of Lille or "E=mc2". (Source)
The litle streets & squares
Place aux Oignons is part of one of the oldest neighborhoods in Lille.
Aux Merveilleux de Fred
" The merveilleux (marvelous) is a small cake that originated in Belgium and is now found in France and some U.S. cities. It consists of a sandwich of two light meringues welded with whipped cream which has been covered with whipped cream and dusted with chocolate shavings. A candied cherry sometimes decorates the cake. The confectioner and chocolatier Pierre Marcolini developed his own version, as did the French confectioner Frederic Vaucamps." You can find the shop of Fred also in Lille on Place des buisses 1.
Rue de la MonnaieHOSPICE COMTESSE MUSEUM
"Located in the heart of Old Lille, the museum is housed in the hospital which was founded in 1237 by the Countess Jeanne de Flandre and which remained in service until 1939. The present buildings date back to the 15th, 17th and 18th centuries." [...] Since 1962, these buildings are the setting for a collection of paintings, tapestries, wood sculptures and porcelain from the region, thus creating the atmosphere of a 17th century Flemish small convent." (Source)
I did not go inside but i found the entry gate stunning.
Remains of Mill Saint-Pierre
"A red wall is what remains of the Mill Saint-Pierre, an old water mill in Vieux Lille on the rue de la Monnaie near the Musee de l'Hospice" (Source: Instagram text). This water mill was a gift from the Countess Jeanne de Flandres to the Hospice Comtesse, its first construction dates back to 1237. (Source: translation)
View from the topThe Belfry
"One of the architectural symbols of the region Nord is the belfry. In Lille, the belfry is attached to the City hall and dominates the city by its height (104m). With its typical architecture, it is the highest of the region Nord Pas de Calais. Made in bricks, the material used at this time in the region, the belfry of Lille was unveiled in 1932." (Source)
Gate to Paris
"This gate, the most impressive of the three gates, served as an 'Arc de Triomphe' (though much smaller), was constructed between 1685 and 1692 in honour of the capture of Lille by Louis XIV. The arch is decorated with the Coat of Arms of Lille (bearing only lilly) and the Coat of Arms of France (bearing 3 lillies). The top of the arch is crowned with two angels whose role is to tell the world about the Sun King's conquest. The portal has a statue of Hercules - symbol of strength highlighting the power and magnificence of the king - on the right, and Mars, the god of war, on the left. Place Simon Vollant was named after the architect of the Porte de Paris." (Source)
Food & DrinksDinner @La Bottega - Pizza & Antipasti
Totally recommend if you are in the mood for pizza. Like the taste and the quality of the food.
Lunch @ La creperie
a lot of options, interesting combinations, was a great idea to try this out.
Breakfast @Coffee Makers
Happy with the coffee, disappointed with the breakfast. for France, this coffee is really good, so I enjoyed a lot my flat white, unfortunately the breakfast has very limited options and it is annoying you can't order any of the lunch options even if they are available before 12:00
Cocktails @Le Dandy
These cocktails look super artistic and are very good, not cheap though
Beer @ O'Scotland Irish Bar
Here I also met âchaussette #loveatfirstsight
At the end: a bit of background on the title of the post
Tell any person from Flanders, Belgium that you go to Lille, and here it starts :) " did you know that Lille used to be part of Flanders...." If you check Wikipedia then you can also see under Origins of the city " The first mention of the town dates from 1066: apud Insulam (Latin for "at the island"). At the time, it was controlled by the County of Flanders" and reading through the Lille tourist website you find out that it only became part of France on 17th August 1667.
But what made me see it more as a Flemish city than a French one (and I do apologize for anyone not having the same opinion as mine) is the architecture and maybe the fact that they have Belgian beer everywhere you look :P
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