To indulge myself in rich French culture and to find inspiration in life, I went to a beautiful French city called Lille. Located in southern France, close to the Belgian border, Lille city is known for its unique blend of French and Flemish influences and lively culture. This city is also known as a student city. This city is a dream city for architects due to its preserved Flemish architecture. Flemish architecture also known as the Northern Renaissance Revival which was inspired by Northern Europe's architecture in the 17th century. Flemish architecture flourished during the 17th-century era in Belgium and the Netherlands so due to geographical context, the city of Lille has identical and inspired architecture like Belgium. You will find a lot of similarities between Brussels and Lille. Even many Dutch people think Lille is a city in Belgium.
It might sound fancy that I went to Lille to find inspiration. To break the monotony of my life and discover something new, I made a solo day trip to Lille France. I found a travel group for transportation and joined them. My trip started around 3.00 am, in the middle of the night. Normally it takes around 4 hours by car to reach Lille from my city in the Netherlands but when I reached Lille, it was sunrise moment.
Lille, France
The car dropped me near the old town of Lille. From there Opera house Lille was really nearby, 5 minutes walk. It was early morning, and not many people were around. The sun was just rising and created an exquisite autumn morning. The weather was chilly, so my first thought was to find a cafe for breakfast.
So, my first walk was infront of Opéra de Lille (Lille Opera) and from there I started my day. I found a cafe near La Vieille Bourse which was already opened for breakfast. I ordered a coffee and of course a croissant. I sat in front of the cafe and simply enjoyed my morning coffee while seeing the beautiful sunrise morning in Lille. Infront of me was the exquisite architectural landmark called La Vieille Bourse (The Vieille Bourse), the old stock exchange. The square is called General de Gaulle Square.
Not many people were around and almost all the restaurants were closed. It was weekend, Saturday early morning so it was really nice to have my coffee somewhere so nice yet no people around. No bustling sound, no crowd yet I was enjoying my morning coffee in the middle of the city.
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Another reason I spent so much time in the cafe at Gaulle Square was the Sephora store. In the Netherlands, there are no Sephora outlets so when I saw the shop, I knew I had to go there so I waited in the cafe until the shop opened. Besides, I had no rush and there were not so many locations in my mind so I did what I wanted to do.
After finishing my coffee and a small haul in Sephora, I finally decided to walk around. Before exploring the Gaulle Square and The Vieille Bourse, I thought to see other locations. I had decided to come back to this square later again.
After doing some shopping at Sephora, I followed Rue Pierre-Mauroy Street to see Saint-Maurice church. This street is a very prominent street in Lille which connects the Lille Flandres train station to the city center, ending near the Grand Place (Place du Général-de-Gaulle). I started my walk from Grand Palace so to reach the church, it took me around 15-20 minutes.
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Saint-Maurice Church is a Roman Catholic Gothic church designed in 1914. The church was originally built in the 14th century and over time it expanded. It's a beautiful landmark close to the city center. When I was there, the church was closed because it was early morning so I just enjoyed the exterior details of the church. The church is located near the train station so easily tourists can visit the church.
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My next destination was the Vieille Bourse, the old stock exchange. So, I followed the same Rue Pierre-Mauroy street and came back to Grand Palace Square. The exact/precise location is known as Vieux Lille (Old Town) and Vieille Bourse is located close to Grand Palace Square. The Vieille Bourse is known as one of the most spectacular architectural buildings in Lille of the 17th century. It's a must-see spot for the tourists. This landmark is a gorgeous example of Flemish Renaissance architecture.
I went to the inside of the building and stood on the courtyard to enjoy the sunlight. Courtyard is now used for open bookstores where you can buy old books. It's a second-hand book market. It's also a community space, during summer a lot of events are organized here.
The best part for me was the architecture, it's rich and historical and colorful. The exterior of the building is richly decorated with statues, flowers, and mythological figures. I loved it.
What I loved most about Lille city is the colors and lively atmosphere. Even though the morning was less crowded and quiet, I felt a vibrant ambiance while exploring the city.
My trip is incomplete without souvenirs so buying souvenirs is a must-do thing for me.
History, culture, and charm reside in the streets of Lille and it’s a perfect example of a French and Flemish-influenced city. There old lille city center looks vibrant with many cobblestone streets and Flemish houses. There are a lot of shops, boutique stores, and cafes nearby and almost everywhere.
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I visited quite a few landmarks called Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille Cathedral, and Musée de l'Hospice Comtesse but mostly I walked around and didn't stress myself to see everything. My thought was to enjoy the city tour in a relaxing way so I skipped visiting so many landmarks and locations. I spent quite a lot of time at Notre Dame Cathedral though.
In my mind, I was thinking just enjoy the moment and see what is in front of you.
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In Lille, you will find some luxurious, local boutique shops. I visited some clothing stores as well as some niche shops to understand the local culture and atmosphere. People love to walk here and spend a lot of time sitting in the cafe.
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My intention was very clear and I knew how I wanted to spend my time in Lille. I took my day slow and steady and enjoyed what was offered.
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I had my lunch at a traditional French Restaurant and it was a great experience. The food was delicious and the interior atmosphere was exceptional and cozy. Loved my lunch...
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The culture in Lille city is mixed, mostly influenced by French and Belgian culture. The city is traditional yet modern because the old Lille represents the historical part of the city whereas the new Lille represents a modern lifestyle. Lille has some exclusive landmarks for art lovers.
After spending the entire day in Lille, it was time to finally come back home. The day was colorful and I really had some moments in Lille...
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Priyan...
I am @priyanarc.... An architect, a dreamer, and a passionate writer who loves to write about life. I try to present my own perspective and experiences. Please leave your feedback and criticism because it's the only way I can know and reach your mind and thoughts easily...
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