Grand Place, Lille

Grand Place, Lille

At the heart of Lille is the Place du Général de Gaulle, better known as Grand Place.

At the heart of Lille is the Place du Général de Gaulle, better known as Grand Place. The bustling plaza started out as a market square in the 11th century, and has since been the commercial centre of the city. Around the square are several historical buildings, such as the Vieille Bourse - the old stock exchange, Théâtre du Nord or la Métaphore that was previously the Grand Garde, Le Furet du Nord – one of Europe’s biggest book stores, and news publisher La Voix du Nord, topped by statues of the Three Graces representing the provinces of Artois, Flanders and Hainault. At the centre is the Colonne de la Déesse, a bronze sculpture of the Goddess on a marble column surrounded by fountains, built to represent the heroism of the citizens during the siege of Lille in 1792.

The square is transformed into a winter wonderland with a magical Christmas market in December, with a giant ferris wheel set up as the centre of attraction. Near the square are the ornate Opera de Lille and the row-houses of Rang deBeauregard. Walk around to soak in the vibrance and beauty of Lille’s busiest square.