From a city born among marshy islands to Flemish merchants, legendary giants, Louis XIV and a rather cheeky cannonball, Lille has quite a few stories to tell....
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History
Lille wasn’t always French, and it never forgets it. Flemish, Burgundian, Spanish, then French, the city has changed hands more often than a pint at a stag do. This section digs into how it got here: the textile dynasties that built the grand houses, the family firms that grew into names you’ll recognise from your own high street, and the summer the Tour de France rolled out of town. Delphine knows the family trees; I just nod.
The great industrial families of Lille: textile fortunes, family ties and a remarkable legacy
Textile fortunes, famous surnames, school aprons and summer holidays on the Opal Coast. This is a little history of Northern France — and quite a lot of...
From La Redoute to Decathlon: how Lille became the birthplace of France’s biggest retail brands
What do La Redoute, Auchan, Decathlon, Kiabi, Pimkie and Promod have in common? They all have roots in and around Lille, Roubaix and Tourcoing. And that's...
How to Prepare for the Tour de France Grand Départ
Introduction Planning to attend the Grand Départ in Lille? Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of your experience. 1. Book Your Accommodation...
The History of the Tour de France Grand Départ
Grand Départ Lille First run in 1906, the Paris-Lille stage was a traditional curtain-raiser for the Tour de France. It was run on seven occasions on routes...