MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS (MUSÉE DES BEAUX ARTS)
Address: Place de la République Tel: 03 20 06 78 00
Open: Mon 14:00-18:00, Wed-Thu, Sat-Sun 10:00-18:00, Fri 10:00-19:00

To many people’s surprise, this is the second largest museum in Europe after Louvre in Paris. Based in a spectacular 19th century mansion, the museum houses a phenomenal collection of 15th to 20th century paintings, drawings, sculptures and 17th and 18th century porcelain. The highlights include Ruben’s Descent from the Cross, Delacroix’s Medea and Goya’s Young and Old Women.

MUSEUM OF MODERN ART (MUSÉE D’ART MODERNE)
Address: 1 allée du Musée, quartier Cousinerie Tel: 03 20 19 68 68 Website: www.nordnet.fr/mam Open: Mon, Wed-Sun 10:00-18:00

Set in a small park dotted with sculptures by world-renowned artist such as Picasso, Richard Deacon and Alexandre Calder, the museum houses a large collection of contemporary paintings. Masterpieces by legendary modern artists such as Braque, Miró, Modigliani and Picasso are on exhibit here.

HOSPICE COMTESSE MUSEUM
(MUSÉE DE L’HOSPICE COMTESSE)
Address: 32 rue de la Monnaie Tel: 03 28 36 84 00
Open: Mon 14:00-18:00, Wed-Fri 10:00-12:30 & 14:00-18:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-18:00

Set in a 13th century hospice founded by Countess of Flanders, the museum traces the local history and exhibits a superb collection of paintings by Dutch, Flemish and French masters dating back to the 15th century. Other exhibits include tapestries, Lilois earthenware, Delftware, wood engravings, metalwork, furniture and musical instruments.

VIEILLE BOURSE (OLD STOCK EXCHANGE)
Address: Place du Général-de-Gaulle Open: Daily

This remarkable building was originally constructed in the mid 17th century in the Flemish Renaissance style. The façade was recently renovated to reveal spectacular images of King Midas and Bacchus covered in fruit and garlands. The doorways are embellished with sculptures of Lions of Flanders, which remain from the Dutch rule. Today, the building houses 24 small stores around a central courtyard overlooked by a stunning bell-tower. On most days of the week the courtyard is packed with stalls selling anything from books to flowers.

GRAND’PLACE

Grand’Place, also known as Place du Général-de-Gaulle, is Lille’s main city square around which much of the life in the city revolves. The central column was built in 1842 to commemorate the city’s resistance to the Austrian siege in 1792. Around the square you will find some of the best examples of Flemish architecture, including the Vieille Bourse and the Salengro Theatre. The square is an ideal place for people watching while sitting with a cup of coffee in one of its many pavement cafés.

CHARLES DE GAULLE MUSEUM
Address: Rue Princesse 9 Tel: 03 28 38 12 05
Open: Wed-Sun 10:00-12:30 and 14:00-17:30

Housed in a building where Charles de Gaulle was born in 1890, the museum traces the remarkable life of the former French president. Visitors can roam the 19th century house and admire the captivating exhibits, which include historic documents, photographs and multimedia projections. Among the memorabilia is the Citroen car in which he was travelling during his attempted assassination in 1962.

Situated at the edge of the city centre, the star-shaped Citadelle was constructed by Louis XIV in the 17th century. Today, the fortress is used by the military but guided tours are available from the main entrance at Porte Royale. The fortress is surrounded by acres of parks and forests popular with families. There is also a playground for children, complete with a merry-go-round as well as a zoo with over 400 species. The zoo is well known for breeding endangered species and has a rare white rhinoceros among its residents.