Lille hotels

Hotels in Lille

Situated in the north of the country, Lille Hotels are set in one of France's most cultural and historical cities – offering access to world-class museums, art galleries, handsome townhouses and public parks.

Architecture, Museums and Galleries

The Flemish influence can be seen nearly everywhere in Lille, with characteristic brown and red-bricked buildings surrounding the historical city centre. These styles make Lille a unique area, part French and part Belgian when it comes to city design.

One of the most interesting sights in Lille is the enormous star-shaped Citadel of Lille, designed by the celebrated 17th-century French military architect Vauban, following the capture of the city in 1667. Guided tours of the interior are available during the summer, and the surrounding parkland has a small zoo and amusement park for kids to play in

For art lovers, the Palais des Beaux Arts has a fantastic collection of paintings from the 15th to 20th centuries, including work by Rubens and Manet. The building itself is impressive to behold, built in the 19th century under the instructions of Napoleon I. As well as visual art, the gallery holds a strong collection of classical and medieval archaeology.

If modern art is more to your taste, LAM - Lille Art Modern Museum holds a vast number of modern and contemporary works, by artists such as Picasso, Kandinsky and Deacon, as well as France's largest collection of outsider art. The Musée d'Art et d' Industrie de Roubaix: La Piscine is another great place for 20th-century art, housed in what used to be Art Deco swimming baths.

Gardens

Lille is home to a number of beautiful public gardens, ideal for summer strolls and autumn ambles around the city. The Jardin botanique de la Faculté de Pharmacie which, as the name suggests, is operated by the University of Lille's Faculty of Pharmacy, has an arboretum, a tropical greenhouse and a herbarium. The Jardin botanique Nicolas Boulay and the Jardin des Plantes de Lille similarly offer picturesque surroundings to wander through.

Markets

Whether you're looking for fresh fruit or secondhand books, Lille has a number of excellent markets to visit. The Marche De Wazemmes is one of the largest markets in France and has everything from live accordion music to rows of colourful fabrics on display. The Marche De La Vieille Bourse is the best place to go to peruse through volumes of secondhand books and old photographs while the Marche Du Concert sells fresh produce in the heart of the Old Town.

Further afield

If you have a car or a train ticket, Lille makes a great base for exploring a number of nearby cities. Hop across the border to Belgium and you'll soon be within range of both Ghent and Brussels. Stick to France and a short drive will take you to the vast Parc Naturel Régional Scarpe-Escaut, with Amiens and Saint-Quentin also nearby to the south.