The 20 best sights in Lille

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Lille Best Sights Rating
Lille’s best cultural attractions
Place du General-de-Gaulle (Place du General-de-Ga le)
Paris Gate (Porte de Paris)
Lille City Hall (Beffroi de lle)
Lille’s best cathedrals and churches
Notre-Dame-de-la-Trey (Basi) que-cathedrale Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille)
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Cham e de commerce et d’industrie)
New Square Gallery
Primitive Art Gallery
Lille Artists Square (Galerie d’art Carré d’artistes lle)

*Review of the best according to the editors. Selection criteria. This material is subjective, not an advertisement and is not a guide to purchase. Before buying it is necessary to consult with a specialist.

Lille is an amazingly beautiful city located in northern France. Many historical events are associated with it, so there are a huge number of attractions here. If you want to have a fun and exciting time in Lille, see the rating of the best sights, according to tourist reviews.

Lille Best Sights Rating

Nomination	place	Name	Rating
Lille’s best cultural attractions	1	Place de Gaulle	5.0
2	The Citadel	4.9
3	Parisian Gate	4.8
4	Lille Town Hall	4.7
Lille’s best museums	1	Palais des Beaux-Arts	5.0
2	Museum of Modern Art	4.9
3	Lille Natural History Museum	4.8
4	The Countess Hospital Museum	4.7
Lille’s best cathedrals and churches	1	Notre-Dame-de-la-Trey	5.0
2	St. Catherine Church	4.9
3	Church of St. Mauritius	4.8
4	Church of Saint-Denis	4.7
Lille’s best architectural landmarks	1	The Old Exchange	5.0
2	Chamber of Commerce	4.9
3	Lille-Flanders	4.8
4	Maison Coyo	4.7
Best Art Galleries	1	Contemporary art space	5.0
2	New Square	4.9
3	Gallery of Prehistory	4.8
4	Lille Artists Square	4.7

Lille’s best cultural attractions

Place du General-de-Gaulle (Place du General-de-Ga
le)

Rating: 5.0

ploshhad generala de gollja (Place du General-de-Ga<ul></div><p>le)” src=”/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/77416666196671-4920.jpg” height=”400″ title=”Place du General-de-Gaulle</p><ul>le)”><p>Place du General-de-Gaulle, the most popular square in the city. Many rallies, pickets, and other city events are held here. The square has the Old Exchange and the Goddess Column, erected to commemorate the local resistance to the Austrian siege at the end of the 18th century.</p><p>On the square’s perimeter are many historic buildings that attract tourists. This is a great place to walk around and get a first look at the history, political life and peculiarities of Lille. Plenty of angles for good shots, with cafes to suit all tastes and budgets all around.</p><p>The Place de la Citadelle is a vast and picturesque square, from which the alleys leading to the various corners of the city. It’s always full of tourists. If you want to have even more of an experience, we recommend visiting Place de Gaulle at Christmas. This is when they put up the Giant Ferris Wheel, which offers a spectacular view over the entire city.</p><p>Address: Place du Général-de-Ga</p><ul>le, 59800<li>lle<h3>The Citadel</h3><p>Rating: 4.9</p><div style=

This is the real “queen of citadels” and was the first creation of the famous engineer Sébastien le Petit de Vauban. It is built in the shape of a regular pentagon, built for only 4 years. Reconstructed several times, but that doesn’t diminish its historical and cultural value.

The Citadel is surrounded by a vast park, the Bois de Boulogne, which includes a zoo. The site itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Citadel still houses the French Rapid Intervention Corps and a NATO troop base, so only some parts of the Citadel can be visited.

If you are planning a visit to this attraction, make sure you have at least one month’s notice. You can’t go inside without a guide, so choose an interesting tour. Their prices start at 10€ and up. Without a tour, you can only see the citadel from the outside.

Address: Champ de Mars, 59800

lle

Paris Gate (Porte de Paris)

Rating: 4.8

One of Lille’s main attractions, the Arc de Triomphe. The Palais des Beaux-Arts has a central archway and colonnades on the right and left. The Paris gateway is decorated with sculptures of Mars and Hercules, as well as royal lilies and the city’s coat of arms.

The whole site is topped by a large-scale sculpture of Victory, surrounded by angels. In Victory’s hand is a laurel intended for a hero and savior (by which, no doubt, Louis XIV was meant). By the way, the wreath and the angels’ trumpets are gilded. An architectural masterpiece that is worth seeing with your own eyes.

We recommend visiting this landmark in the first half of the day, as it looks better in bright sunlight. Conveniently, you can walk here from the Theatre Square if you follow the Rue de Paris. Open 24 hours a day, no admission charge.

Address: Place Simon Vollant,

lle

Lille City Hall (Beffroi de
lle)

Rating: 4.7

ratusha lillja (Beffroi de<li></div><p>lle)” src=”/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/21816666196671-4520.jpg” height=”400″ title=”Lille City Hall (Beffroi de</p><li>lle)”><p>The next cultural attraction in Lille is the town hall. A UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although this building is less than 100 years old, it houses a large collection of modern and contemporary art. There are many guided tours of the town hall and its price starts from 8-10 € (about 700-900 rub).).</p><p>There are a lot of tours through the town hall. Paintings by contemporary painters are placed not only in special halls, but also in corridors with flights of stairs. The most interesting thing for tourists is the bell tower which everyone can climb to get a bird’s eye view of the city.</p><p>Open Mondays to Fridays (08:30 to 17:00) and Saturdays (08:00 to 12:00). Sunday is a day off. We recommend to come here in the morning, because later a huge number of tourists gather here and you have to wait for your turn to the tower about 1-1.5 hours.</p><p>Address: Place Augustin Laurent, 59000</p><li>lle<h2>The best museums in Lille</h2><h3>The Palais des beaux-arts de<li>lle)</h3><p>Rating: 5.0</p><div style=

dvorec izjashhnyh iskusstv (Palais des beaux-arts de<li></div><p>lle)” src=”/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/67916666196671-6920.jpg” height=”280″ title=”Palais des beaux-arts de</p><li>lle)”><p>One of the most important museums, not only in Lille, but in all of France. It is known for the size and quality of the works. The largest museum of fine art in the world, with the exception of the Louvre. Created in 1792 and includes masterpieces of European painting by Rubens, Van Dyck, Goya and Delacroix.</p><p>Among the paintings and sculptures, the collection of Jean-Baptiste Vicard occupies a special place. This is a French master who worked in the style of neoclassicism. The exhibit halls are extremely varied. Keep in mind, though, that there are no descriptions in English included with the exhibits. No flash, no photos, no video.</p><p>The “Palais des Beaux-Arts” is open Monday (14:00 to 18:00) and Wednesday through Sunday (10:00 to 18:00). Tuesday is a day off. There is a fee to enter the museum, but it costs 6.5 € (about 500 rubles).). For tourists: on the lobbies of the first floor you can rest comfortably on poufs and drink a cup of tea or coffee. Plan your visit well in advance.</p><p>Address: Place de la Répub</p><li>que, 59000<li>lle<h3>Museum of Modern Art (<li>lle Métropole musée d`Art moderne)</h3><p>Rating: 4.9</p><div style=

muze sovremennogo iskusstva (<li></div><p>lle Métropole musée d′Art moderne)” src=”/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/21916666196671-520.jpg” height=”360″ title=”Museum of Modern Art (</p><li>Lle Métropole musée d’Art moderne)”><p>About 12 km from Lille is a famous museum of modern art. There are more than 4,500 pieces on display, including works by Picasso, Gecquet, Léger, Klee, Modigliani and Braque. It is the only museum in Europe that has a large collection of modern art of XX and XXI centuries.</p><p>The museum is surrounded by a beautiful park with large sculptures (part of the exposition). We recommend a stroll here after studying the works of. Interestingly, the museum itself has a large collection of art-brut objects: paintings and sculptures created by mentally ill people, prisoners in prisons, etc.</p><p>The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Monday off. Many tourists have noticed that it is very crowded, so it is best to come a little later, not in the morning in time for the opening. Admission is free and the staff is very friendly and attentive. In the garden next to the museum you can relax and have a picnic.</p><p>Address: 1 Allée du Musée, 59650 Villeneuve-d’Ascq</p><h3>Lille Museum of Natural History (Musée d’histoire naturelle de<li>lle)</h3><p>Rating: 4.8</p><div style=

muze estestvenno istorii lillja (Musée d'histoire naturelle de<li></div><p>lle)” src=”/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/57316666196671-5320.jpg” height=”400″ title=”Lille Museum of Natural History (Musée d’histoire naturelle de</p><li>lle)”><p>Lille Natural History Museum founded in 1822. Recommended if you are traveling with children. It has various collections devoted to zoology, geology, mineralogy and botany. The total number of exhibits in this museum is over 500,000.</p><p>A big plus is that the exhibits are well displayed. Several spaces in the museum are set aside just for activities with children. There are temporary exhibitions on a regular basis, but always of a good quality. There are special offers for children (e.g. guided tours in the form of fun games).</p><p>In general, it is a very beautiful and informative place. Special offer: free admission on the first Sunday of each month. On other days the ticket price is 4,5 € (about 300 RUB).). Exit day – Tuesday. The rest of the museum is open from 10:00 to 18:00, but there is a small break (from 13:00 to 14:00). There’s a parking lot right next to the museum, and it’s always full.</p><p>Address: 19 Rue de <br />uxelles, 59000</p><li>lle<h3>Musée d’histoire naturelle de Lille (Musee des Hospices Comtesse)</h3><p>Rating: 4.7</p><div style=

This is a hospice built in the 15th and 18th centuries. Now open as a museum with authentic furniture and artwork. Tourists are attracted by the interesting interiors and worthy exhibits. Temporary exhibitions are regularly held. All in all, it will take you no more than 1-1.5 hours to explore all the exhibits.

This place has a rather interesting system. To get into the main building of the museum, you have to knock 2-3 times on the door, and then a guard will open it. A great place to visit if you’re interested in local medieval history, since the museum is housed in a convent and hospital.

Free admission applies on the first Sunday of each month. Many tourists have commented that the guides here are good (audio tour). Nearby is a nice park for recreation. The museum is open on Monday (2pm to 6pm) and Wednesday to Sunday (10am to 6pm). Tuesday is a day off. Tickets cost 3.7€ (about 260RUB).).

Address: 32 Rue de la Monnaie, 59800

lle

Lille’s best cathedrals and churches

Notre-Dame-de-la-Trey (Basi)
que-cathedrale Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille)

Rating: 5.0

notr-dam-de-la-tre (Basi<li></div><p>que-cathedrale Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille)” src=”/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/97816666196671-5820.jpg” height=”400″ title=”Notre-Dame-de-la-Trey (Basi</p><li>Queen-cathedrale Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille)”><p>This is a Catholic cathedral that took over 150 years to build. Neo-Gothic architectural style. The roof of the cathedral was built of marble panels and the stained glass window façade was painted by one of the most famous artists, Ladislas Chiyno. The bell tower of this cathedral is about 100m high, so it is visible from many places in Lille.</p><p>This cathedral is worth a visit if only for the fact that there is a statue of the Virgin Mary, dating back to the 12th century. It’s a great place away from the general tourist crowds. Majestic and interesting not only from a historical, but also architectural point of view. There are many frescoes, stained-glass windows, mosaics, and sculptures.</p><p>Free admission. Located almost in the center of Lille. Stores and cafes within walking distance. The cathedral is adjoined by original streets of the city, where you can walk after sightseeing. During the Christmas holidays there are all kinds of shows that are a must-see.</p><p>Address: Place Gilleson, 59800</p><li>lle, France<h3>St. Catherine’s Church (Eg<li>se Sainte-Catherine de<li>lle)</h3><p>Rating: 4.9</p><div style=

cerkov svjato ekateriny (Eg<li></div><p>se Sainte-Catherine de</p><li>lle)” src=”/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/18116666196671-120.jpg” height=”400″ title=”Saint Catherine’s Church (Eg<li>se Sainte-Catherine de<li>lle)”><p>One of the great features of this church is its fascinating history. The attraction is located in the old part of Lille, and was built in honor of Catherine of Alexandria (III-IV century). She was not only beautiful, but also a wise girl – the daughter of a ruler, who secretly converted to Christianity and dedicated her life to the service of Christ.</p><p>Here you can see the church furniture of the XV-XVI centuries, art values and religious utensils, preserved after the Great French Revolution. Paintings by Gérard Seger and Vtor Mottet have survived. There are a number of interesting stained glass windows and sculptures.</p><p>The church is open Tuesday to Saturday (09:30 to 11:30) and Tuesday to Friday (17:00 to 18:30). On weekdays, afternoon masses are held in the Carmelite Chapel of the church. It starts at 12:15 in the afternoon. Free admission.</p><p>Address: 14 terrasse St Catherine,</p><li>lle<h3>Church of Saint Maurice (Ég<li>se Saint-Maurice)</h3><p>Rating: 4.8</p><div style=

cerkov svjatogo mavrikija (Ég<li></div><p>se Saint-Maurice)” src=”/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/12216666196671-3320.jpg” height=”400″ title=”Church of St. Maurice (Ég</p><li>se Saint-Maurice)”><p>It is close to the main square of the city, so you can combine sightseeing in both places. Construction of this church began in the 14th century and took over 500 years. The central spans, the chapels and the deambulatory were built first, everything else later.</p><p>This church is very popular with tourists, as it has sculptures of famous masters (Biebouc, Eide, Ouidier) on its facade. Inside, you can see iconic objects and paintings of local cultural value. This church is still active and regularly hosts services, and sometimes exhibitions.</p><p>Open to the public daily (11:00 am to 6:00 pm). Free access. Many tourists say that the magnitude of this place is astounding. It’s great for getting closer to religion and meditation. There’s too little light inside, but many people don’t consider that a problem. A good place to visit while walking through the historic part of the city.</p><p>Address: 19 Parvis Saint-Maurice, 59800</p><li>lle<h3>Church of Saint Denis (Eg<li>se Saint-Denis-d’Hellemmes)</h3><p>Rating: 4.7</p><div style=

cerkov sen-deni (Eg<li></div><p>se Saint-Denis-d’Hellemmes)” src=”/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/57716666196671-8220.jpg” height=”400″ title=”Church of Saint Denis (Eg</p><li>se Saint-Denis-d’Hellemmes)”><p>It is located in the eastern part of Lille, almost at the border with Belgium. The best way to get here is by metro. The nearest station is “Hellemmes. The church itself was originally dedicated to Saint Guilain, so you can discern the ancient inscription at the entrance: “Saint Guilain, pray for us”.</p><p>The interior, not the exterior, is what makes this place so appealing. It has a neo-Gothic style with a distinctive austerity. The main altar is made of wood. It depicts scenes of the Passion of Christ. There are three bells, one of which weighs more than 1000 kg. The exterior of the landmark retains Romanesque objects.</p><p>Open daily (11:00 am to 6:00 pm). Entrance is free. Nearby there are several alleys where you can relax in the fresh air. No parking, so it is best not to bring your own car.</p><p>Address: Rue Faidherbe, 59260</p><li>lle<h2>Lille’s best architectural sights</h2><h3>Vieille Bourse</h3><p>Rating: 5.0</p><div style=

If you are interested in monuments, visit the Old Exchange in Lille. Its author is a French builder, carpenter and sculptor Julien Dextre. To fulfill his vision, he used the Flemish style. There are 24 rectangular buildings forming an inner courtyard.

Now a book market and a flower market. The site uniquely combines bright colors, sculpture and stucco elements. On the walls of the buildings, you can see images of mythical creatures, Atlanteans and even horns of plenty. On the tower is a statue of Mercury (protector of commerce).

Dance evenings and jazz festivals are held here all the time. The second-hand market stays open all night long. Many tourists come here several times during their trip, not to buy anything, but just to enjoy the incredible atmosphere.

Address: Place Charles de Ga

lle
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Cham
e de commerce et d’industrie)
Rating: 4.9
We recommend this gallery as a starting point for your exploration of the visual arts in Lille. It’s a unique place where artists can exhibit their work. There is an exhibit hall and seating area.
The gallery itself is dynamic. There’s an art library and store. Contemporary art only. Anything you like can be bought. One of the benefits of the gallery is the friendly atmosphere and the evenings with the artists.
“The appeal of this place is that you can rent a piece of art. You can take any painting home for 3 months for a subscription costing 35€ (about 2700RUB).). The work can then be definitively purchased or returned.
Address: 26 Rue Bourjembois, 59000
lle
New Square Gallery
Rating: 4.9
This is a beautiful place to view modern art. One of the best galleries in Lille. There are numerous and varied exhibitions, where you can buy the work you like at the same time.
Bright and spacious art gallery. Perfect for visiting with the whole family. In the evenings there are themed events, including meetings with France’s most famous artists.
Open Tuesday through Saturday (10:00 to 19:00). Entrance is free and available to all tourists. From what I’ve heard it’s crowded on Fridays and Saturdays, so choose weekdays if you want to view the artworks in a more comfortable environment.
Address: 40 Rue Voltaire, 59000
lle
Primitive Art Gallery
Rating: 4.8
If you’re in the heart of old Lille, we recommend you check out this gallery. There are more than 100 exhibits here that are unique. They allow you to learn more about the different ethnic groups of the African continent.
There are sculptures and artistic paintings. Most of them are exceptional objects that visitors from all over the world come to see. Touching the exhibits is prohibited but you can film everything in the gallery with your phone.
The gallery can be visited from Tuesday to Saturday (from 10:00 to 18:00). Entrance is free but voluntary payments are welcome. Gallery owners use funds donated by tourists to further develop the facility.
Address: 44 rue Saint Andre, 59800
lle
Lille Artists Square (Galerie d’art Carré d’artistes
lle)
Rating: 4.7
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