The highlight of Lille besides lille3000 was the old quarter of the city. The mishmash of architectural styles including Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Flemish, and La Belle Epoque was a welcome contrast to the dominant uniformity of the Haussmann buildings of Paris. Around every corner was another great photo op, a building, park, street, courtyard that surprised and thrilled me. Lille has been under Flemish, Burgundian, Spanish and finally French rule in 1667, hence the varied architectural style. In the 19th century it was an industrial capitol that thrived in metalwork, chemicals, and linen and cotton textiles. Much of old Lille was recently restored and redeveloped and now has the feel of the Marais in Paris and Soho in New York with fashionable restaurants and boutiques.
Charles de Gaulle was born in 1890 in the old part of the city and his house is a museum that includes the bullet ridden Citroen which he was driving when the OAS attempted to assassinate him in 1962.
Here is just a small sample of my photos.
St. Maurice
Hospice Comtesse
Place De Gaulle
Eye Prefer Lille?
Palais de Beaux Arts
New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook. First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte’s professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.
Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 3 students, maximum 6 students.
Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.
I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com
WOW Richard what stunning shots - what a beautiful town. Next time I come to Paris I'm signing up for a tour with you to Lille!!!
xx,
M
Posted by: MadAboutParis | June 24, 2009 at 07:53 PM
Lill has really become a very attractive place, I agree! ... but for the moment I will remain in Paris! :-)
Posted by: Peter | June 24, 2009 at 11:07 PM
I just loved your pics of Lille - I had no idea it was such a charming city, I always had the impression it was all factories and industry. They should make you a one-man booster for visits to their city. Terrific photos.
Posted by: June | June 25, 2009 at 10:20 AM
I have visited this gorgeous city france/lille with my whole family , 2 kids ,wife and mom and dad we stay 4 star hotel and our whole trip arranged by http://www.privatetoursinistanbul.com All trips are perfect and we loved our guide ,well-known and sophisticated person and tour wouldn’t be the same without him , At every location we learned something, but also had fun and easy interactions with our tour guide.
we are highly glad to be with that guys and they made our time perfect.thank you and looking forward to seeing with another destination in future.
Posted by: istanbul tours | February 04, 2012 at 02:52 PM
Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.
Posted by: Istanbul Tours | December 12, 2012 at 03:26 PM