Lille

Access: 
By car
Highway network: A1 to Paris, A27 to Brussels, A23 towards Valenciennes-Mons-Aix-la-Chapelle, A25 towards Dunkirk, A22 towards Ghent-Antwerp-Amsterdam and A26 towards London-Calais-Lyons.
This is completed by a new ring road around the city.

By air
Lille airport: newly inaugurated in 1996 with a capacity of 1.5 million passengers.
Over 20 national and international destinations.
Situated less than 10 km from the city centre.
 

By train
Lille-Flanders station: largest regional station with 70,000 passengers per day.
TGV Lille-Europe station: frequent and direct links to the major cities of France and Europe (10,000 passengers per day). 
Daily return runs by TGV: 24 Lille-Paris, 18 Lille-Charles de Gaulle airport, 8 Lille-Lyons, 13 Lille-London and 15 Lille-Brussels.

River port: 3rd river port in France, and an authentic rear base for the major ports of the North-West.

Combined transport routes that permit the use of waterways, railways and roads.

Urban transport: the world's first automated metro system, the VAL (Automated Light Vehicle System) inaugurated in 1983) services 39 stations over 28 km.
Under construction: 17 km and 21 stations linking LIlle to Roubaix and Tourcoing.
A modern tram system (19 km and 36 stations) plus 69 bus lines. 

He is also a member of the Senate, the President of Lille-Métropole Urban Community and a Former Prime Minister of François Mitterand's Government in 1981.

Other key figures in the city's history
Philippe III le Bon (1419-1467) Grand Duke of the West, built the Palais Rihour.
Vauban (1633-1707), Marshall of France, built the Citadel.
Mayor André (1735-1812), led the resistance against the siege in 1792.
Auguste Scalbert (1815-1899) founded the first bank in the North of France.
Antoine Scrive (1789-1864) saved the developing wool industry from disaster by basing activities on English methods.
Louis Blanquart-Evrard (1802-1872), chemist and inventor of photographic paper.
Louis Faidherbe (1816-1889), General, Governor of Senegal, resisted heroically at the head of the armies of Northern France in 1870.
Louis Pasteur (1822-1895), first Dean of Lille's faculty of sciences, created in 1854.
Edouard Lalo (1823-1892), composer (Le Roi d'Ys, La Symphonie espagnole).
Antoine Renard (1825-1872), composer of "Le Temps des cerises".
Alexandre Desrousseaux (1820-1892), Municipal employee and composer of "P'tit Quinquin" (L'Canchon-Dormoire).
Pierre Degeyter (1848-1932), labourer, composer of "l'Internationale" in 1888.
Albert Samain (1858-1900), poet.
Albert Calmette (1863-1933), first director of Lille's Pasteur Institute, and jointly responsible for discovering the BCG vaccination.
Emile Bernard (1868-1941), painter in the Pont-Aven school.
Jean Perrin (1870-1942), winner of the Nobel Physics prize, proved the existence of electrons. Founder of the National Scientific Research Centre, his remains can be found in the Pantheon.
Cardinal Achille Liénart (1884-1973), nicknamed the "red bishop" because of his courageous social positions.
Roger Salengro (1890-1936), Minister of the Interior under Leon Blum, and Mayor of Lille from 1925 to 1936..
Charles de Gaulle (1890-1970), born on the Rue Princess (the house where he was born is a museum today), President of the Republic.
Augustin Laurent (1895-1990), member of the resistance, Minister of the Post and Telecommunications authorities, and Mayor of Lille from 1955 to 1973.
Julien Duvivier (1896-1967), film maker:  Pépé le Moko, La Bandera, La Belle équipe.
Raoul de Godeswaervelde, popular singer who died in the seventies
Jean-Claude Casadesus, conductor of the Lille National Orchestra.
François Boucq, cartoon artist.
Gilles Defacque, director of the Prato Theatre (International District Theatre).
Alain Decaux, historian and member of the French Academy.
Stuart Seide, director of the "Théâtre du Nord".
Martine Aubry, 1st deputy to the Mayor since 1995, Minister for Employment and Solidarity.

Clubs, associations, etc.:
Top level sports teams:
Lille Hockey Club (several times French champions, field and indoor - 4th at the last League of Champions), 
LOSC (football club in the second division),
Tennis Club of Lille, 
ASPTT (club uniting numerous top level activities such as athletics and table tennis), 
lLUC (Lille University Club - also unites top level disciplines).

Specialities:
Typical Lille dishes: the mussels and French fries at the Braderie, the "Vieux-Lille" cheese, Meert waffles, etc.
 

Theatre: 
6 main theatres, including the Théâtre du Nord, the Sébastopol, the Grand Bleu, the Prato, the Biplan, the Massenet theatre. 14 professional theatre companies.

Reading: 
The Central Library with 30,000 readers and 650,000 documents.
5 district libraries (Bois-Blancs, Fives, Moulins, Vieux-Lille and Wazemmes) + a mobile library.
"Le Furet du Nord" is the world's second largest bookshop after one in Toronto.

Cinemas:
3 cinema complexes (UGC, Majestic and Métropole), plus La Marbrerie and le Garance (At the Palace of Fine Arts).

Museums: 
Palais des Beaux-Arts (Palace of Fine Arts). This re-opened in 1996 and now has a surface area of 22,000 m2. Today, the museum has teaching rooms, an auditorium and a library of art history. It can hold major exhibitions, such as that devoted to Goya until March of this year. 
Musée d'art flamand de l'Hospice Comtesse (Hospice Comtesse Museum of Flemish Art)
32, rue de La Monnaie - tel : +33 (0)3 20 49 50 90 
Musée d'Histoire naturelle et de Géologie
(Museum of Natural History and Geology)
18, rue de Bruxelles - tel : +33 (0)3 20 06 78 00 
Maison natale du général de Gaulle
(House in which General de Gaulle was born)
9, rue Princesse - tel : +33 (0)3 20 31 96 03 
Musée d'art et d'industrie (Museum of Art and Industry), whose collections are at the Museum of natural History. 
Musée d'art militaire des Canonniers
(Cannoniers Musem of Military Art)
44, rue des Canonniers. 
Musée Diocésain d'art religieux (Diocesan Museum of Religious Art) , crypt of the Notre-Dame de la Treille cathedral
tel : +33 (0)3 20 72 53 61 
Atelier d'Images et d'Arts Plastiques (Studio for images and the plastic arts) (ARIAP)
4, rue des Sarrazins tel : +33 (0)3 20 40 17 51

Sport:
Lille has 300 sports clubs with 30,000 licensed members, and a second division football club, the LOSC. 
Facilities available include 69 local sports installations, 30 sports halls, 3 swimming pools including one of Olympic dimensions, 1 university pool and a nautical complex. 
The Grimonprez-Jooris stadium has a capacity of 18.000 spectators. 
Main sports installations : 
Palais Saint-Sauveur
(78, avenue Kennedy - tel : +33 (0)3 20 52 24 97)
Marx Dormoy Pool (avenue Marx Dormoy- tel : +33 (0)3 20 92 53 30 ou +33 (0)3 20 92 80 22)
Grimonprez-Jooris Stadium.

Research and health: 
340 laboratories and nearly 4,000 researchers. 
The Pasteur Institute, the INRA, the INSERM, and CNRS and the Institute for Fluid Mechanics. 
Lille's University Hospital Complex is the 4th largest in France after Paris, Lyons and Marseilles. It employs 11,000 persons within 11 establishments, and is responsible for 680,000 consultations every year and a total of 64,000 stays in hospital. At "La Cité", there are 7 hospitals (3,080 beds), 9 clinics, 3 maternity divisions and 80 operating theatres. The Eurasanté health and research complex is gradually developing around the hospital complex, and will also expand onto the neighbouring commune of Loos. Eventually, Eurasanté will occupy 100 hectares and will be a "health complex" similar to those of the USA which unite professionals in the areas of research and medicine in order to develop their economic synergies. Installing companies on the site will also create several dozen jobs.

Secondary education
(under the responsibility of the General and Regional Councils): 
Lille has 9 public colleges, 6 state colleges, and 20 public or private schools for pre-professional studies.

Higher education 
(under the responsibility of the State): 
Metropolican Lille has nearly 100,000 students between the institutions of Lille and  Villeneuve d'Ascq. 
With 4 universities, 13 higher engineering schools, 5 commercial college, 1 school of journalism, 1 administration school, 1 school for higher political studies, 30 sections for qualified technicians and 15 IUT level sections, Lille has the third largest university complex in France. 

Lille I - Science and technolgies
Lille II - Law and health (22,071 students),
Lille III - Social sciences (23,986 students),
Lille Catholic University (14,500 students).

Engineering schools:
Central Lille, 
ENIC (Neew School for Communications Engineers),
ENSAIT (Higher National School of Arts and the Textile Industries), 
ENSAM (Higher National School for Arts and Professions),
ENSCL (Lille Higher National School of Chemistry),
ESTIT (Higher School for Industrial Technology and Textiles)
EUDIL (Lille University Engineering School)
HEI (Higher Industrial Studies)
IAAL (Lille Institute for Agricultural and Foodstuffs Industries)
ICAM (Catholic Institute for Arts and Professions )
ISA (Higher Institute of Agriculture)
ISEN (Northern France Higher Institute for Electronics)
ISTN (Northern France Higher Institute for Technology in Northern France)

Commercial schools, schools for accounting, economics, management:
Management accounting school
ESC (Higher Commercial School)
ESTICE (School for translators, interpreters and external sales managers)
EDHEC (Higher School for Commercial Studies)
EFSI (Institute for Manageement Economics and Social Training for Engineers)
IESEG (Institute for scientific economics and management)

Administration :
IAE (Institute for Company Administration)
IEP (Institute for Political Studies)

Journalism:
ESJ (Higher School of Journalism). 

European University Centre: 
Created in 1991, this centre unites several higher education institutions from the metropolis of Lille in liaison with other universities in the Nord-Pas de Calais region. Each year, it is attended by nearly 7,000 students of some 90 different nationalities, of which nearly 20% are from countries within the European Union. Lille's European University Centre distinguishes itself through close collaboration between the University, research and the economic sector.

Major companies:
The major companies: Seita , Eaux du Nord , La Voix du Nord, SNCF , CHR , Centre de transfusion sanguine (blood transfusion), Groupe Fives-Lille (Dujardin, Montbard Somenor, Fives-Cail Badcock), Les Mutuelles du Mans, AXA, La Caisse des dépôts et Consignations, le Crédit Lyonnais, le Crédit Mutuel du Nord,  le Furet du Nord, etc.

Events for the year 2000: 
Celebrations for the entire city!
Celebrating the year 2000 will be the occasion for numerous festivities stretching from 20th June 1999 until 31st December 2000.
Some of these will be initiated by the City of Lille, others by the Mission for the Celebration of the year 2000, the various districts, the associated commune of Hellemmes and their partners.
20th June 1999.
The Lille Festival. "Il était une fois les Géants..." (Once upon a time, the giants"). Major gathering of 200 French giants, from the Nord - Pas-de-Calais region, Seine Maritime, Hérault and the Bouches du Rhône, but also from throughout Europe: England, Belgium, Spain, etc. in order to celebrate the rebirth of the Lille giants, Lydéric and Phinaert.
Along the route of the procession, which will begin on Rue Solférino at 14.30 hrs, this event will retrace the history and the past of our thousand-year old city via frescoes drawn by François Boucq, a renowned cartoon artist from Lille.
The giants and the music will retrace history by using the century gates to arrive at the Champs de Mars, where a huge circle dance will unite all those taking part in this cultural and convivial event.
The event will be organised with the help of the regional association"La Ronde des Géants" and with the support of the General Council of the Nord département. 
From 27th - 30th August 1999
Giant carpet of begonias at the Great hall of the Town Hall, in collaboration of the Horticultural Society of Northern France. 
18th - 19th September 1999
Heritage days. A celebration, at the turn of the century, of the one-thousandth anniversary of Lille via several major dates in its history. This will be the theme of the Heritage Days for the next two years. 1999 will cover the period from the city's origins to 1900.
- The origins of Lille around the collegial church of Saint-Pierre and of the 1066 charter by Baudouin V of Flanders (Romanesque crypt, cellars, exhibitions).
- The good ladies of Lille (Jeanne and Marguerite, Notre Dame de la Treille): mediaeval village, concerts, reading of extracts from Renard Le Nouvel, a work by Jacquemars Giélée (1288).
-Philippe Le Bon, Duke of Burgundy: exhibition at the Palais Rihour and reconstitution of the great chivalry tournament at the Epinette Festival (offering free entrance for several thousand spectators).
- In the rays of the Sun King: visit of the major monuments built by order of the King. Sermons by Bossuet and Bourdaloue proclaimed by actors.
- The century of industry: exhibition on the chemist Frédéric Kuhlman, reconstitution of the Empresses Ball and puppet show from Lille in the 19th century.
- In the districts of the city: Bois-Blancs (old river boats from Europe and other events) Faubourg de Béthune (Moroccan village and demonstrations by craftsmen) and Fives (exhibitions and parades).
From 27th November 1999 until 16th January 2000
Christmas events: Christmas market (Rihour square), illuminations in all the districts of the city, Ferris wheel on the Grand-Place... and numerous surprises to discover!
31st December 1999
The night of the belfry
- Early in the evening, inauguration of the renovated Town Hall belfry.
- Night on the Grand-Place, street events in the pedestrian zones, disco party until dawn, etc.
- In the sky above Euralille, firework display open to all on 1st January 2000, place François Mitterrand at 17.00 hrs. And many more events!
From 27th - 30th April 2000 
Flower market in the city centre and on other squares. 
21st May 2000 
Grand procession of vintage cars. Parade of 2,000 vehicles in the streets of Lille (Club 203 Peugeot de Lomme). 
From 1st - 4th June 2000 
Festival of Excellence. 25 exhibition and sales stands will be installed on Rihour square and will offer you various events and regional produce. To be enjoyed and appreciated without moderation! 
Mid-June 2000
Arrival of the "Writers' Train". A train that will journey from Bilbao to Berlin and will stop in France at Bordeaux, Paris and Lille. For 36 hours, fruitful meetings between the 90 travelling writers from 45 European countries, and creators from Lille and the surrounding area.
June 2000 
Official signature of the local Agenda 21. Commitment to implementing recommendation of the Aalborg Charter for a world of sustainable development in the XXIst century. 
Human chain. Spectacular gesture of solidarity and unity, accompanied by numerous musical events.
Railways. Festivities surrounding the "Promenade of the Mayor and Prefect" within the framework of the Lille Festival.
15th - 18th September 
Floralille. Grand floral exhibition at the Rameau palace with the collaboration of the Horticultural Society of Northern France. 
11st August - 19th November 2000 
"Présences Africaines". Major exhibition at Norexpo. Lille, in association of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Mission for the Celebration of the Year 2000, will present an exhibition and event presenting the current status of Africa and this continent's contribution to the world. Over a surface area of 7.000 m2, visitors will discover exhibitions, shows, concerts, documentaries, films, meetings and conferences - many ways of illustrating the riches of African civilisation.
16th and 17th September 
Heritage Days. The XXth century with all its sociological, technological, artistic, architectural and urban changes.

These dates are indicative only and are subject to change.
For all information: tel. +33 (0)3 20 49 50 00 

Euralille, seen from the Parc Matisse


 

Official site
www.mairie-lille.fr

www.tourisme.fr

The city has a a population of 172,149 inhabitants (INSEE 1990). 

Capital of the Nord-Pas de Calais region, and at the heart of a metropolis of 1.2 million inhabitants, 
i.e. 1.8 million inhabitants with the 600,000 from across the Belgian border:Comines, Ypres, Courtrai, Mouscron and Tournai.

The Citadelle, built by Vauban

The "braderie" in Lille 

Opéra de Lille
2, rue des Bons-Enfants
59000 Lille

Orchestre National de Lille
Nouveau Siècle, Palais de la Musique
8, place Mendès-France
59000 Lille
tél : +33 (0)3.20.12.82.40.

Le Zénith-Aréna
1, boulevard des Cités Unies
59777 Euralille
tél : +33 (0)3.20.14.15.16.

L'Aéronef
Avenue Willy Brandt
59777 Euralille
tél : +33 (0)3.20.78.00.00.

Théâtre Sébastopol
Place Sébastopol
59000 Lille
tél : +33 (0)3.20.54.44.50.

Danse à Lille
6, rue Jean Roisin
59000 Lille
tél : +33 (0)3.28.52.42.42

Palais des Beaux-Arts
18, rue de Valmy
59000 Lille
tél : +33 (0)3.20.06.78.00.

The "Bois de Boulogne" around the Citadelle 

"Il était une fois les Géants"
Illustration by F. Boucq