Lille, France Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lille_place_bettignies.jpg Author: Velvet
Lille is a city in northern France, and the main city in the Lille Metropolitan Area (Lille Métropole), the fourth largest metropolitan area in France after Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Located on the Deûle River, close to the border of France and Belgium, it is the capital of the Nord-Pas de Calais region.
The city was established as the settlement of L'Isle in AD 640. Its first mention in historical archives appear in AD 1066. The name means "the island", because it was part of a marshland.
Today Lille is a city of 230,000 people (2011 estimate). It was the first city in the world to have an automated rapid transit underground network when the line went into operations in 1983. The opening of the TGV line in 1993 enable commuters to reach Lille within an hour from Paris. In 2004 Lille was was made the European Capital of Culture for 2004 along with Genoa.
Porte de Paris, Lille Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Porte_de_paris_%28Lille_Nord_France%29.JPG Author: GDC
Going to Lille
The most practical way to reach Lille is by train. You can take a train here directly from the Charles de Gaulle Paris airport. The TGV high speed train also stops in Lille on its Brussels-Paris-London route. It is about half an hour to Brussels, an hour to London and one hour 25 minutes to London St Pancras International station.
Exploring Lille
The most convenient mode of transport in Lille is its Metro, which comprises two subway lines from downtown Lille to the suburbs.
Places of Interest in Lille
Vieux Lille The old quarters of Lille is a area with cobbled streets and squares.
Place du Général de Gaulle Central square in Lille.
Citadel Five-pointed fort with moat
Opera and Chamber of Commerce Magnificent early 20th century buildings.
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Lille, France
Porte de Paris, Lille
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