I think everyone should try to study abroad at some time during their education. As for me, I decided to go to France my sophomore year for the Spring semester. I had my cow (Milk Shake!) in tow, and I set off for my adventure in January 2004. The sister school for my university was located in Lille, right smack in the middle of Flemish country (though many will argue with me that they are staunchly French).
Lille is considered the 4th city of France in terms of population size, and it serves as the cultural center to the North of France. While I was there in 2004, Lille was serving as the Cultural Capital of Europe so there were events all over the place. This "capital" moves around Europe and gives the city a chance to display her cultural "wares". For more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Capital_of_Culture
Lille isn't very far from several European capitals, all of which can be reached easily by train. From Lille, Paris is only 1 hour away on the TGV, Brussels is about 30 minutes away on Thalys and London is about 1 1/2 hours away on the Eurostar. All of the trains give discounts according to age (youth discounts are up to 25 years, senior discounts begin at 60) and sometimes you can even get a student discount!
I didn't really visit much when I was there, nor did I take many pictures. Like it so often happens when you live there you say to yourself that you have plenty of time to go see it, and then time comes to leave and you realize that you haven't seen anything. That being said, these are the places that you absolutely must see in Lille:
- Vieux Lille- the old, Flemish part of the city. Beautiful architecture full of quaint restaurants and stores.
- La Vielle Bourse- built in the 17th century this used to house the stock market.
- Place du Général de Gaulle- this is where they hold the flower market. There is a fountain in the center and the whole Place is surrounded by old Flemish buildings.
- La Cathédrale Notre Dame de la Treille- In Vieux Lille, but sort of out of place. Construction was begun in the 19th century, but it wasn't completed until the 1910's, it is rather modern. I walked by this everyday on the way to my dorm. You can access the street where you find the Vielle Bourse from here.
- The Vauban Citadel
- La Porte de Paris- Built by Louis XIV to commemorate his victory in Lille in 1667.
- Le Palais des Beaux Arts- I never visited this, but I will recommend it. It is Lille's art museum and it houses art from the Antiquities to the 20th century. http://www.pba-lille.fr/
It is easy to get around Lille. They have an extensive bus system as well as, a tramway and an automated metro line. As for hotels there is an Ibis hotel (part of the Accor hotel chain) right in Vieux Lille near la Vieille Bourse. These are reasonably priced hotels that offer a no-frills room and a breakfast buffet (usually just breads, cereals and yogurt) at extra-cost. However, with all of the bakeries nearby, why would you want to eat in the hotel?
*Photo courtesy of the Internet. I was unable to load my own this time..... :(
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