About Lille
A gateway to Europe
Lille and its metropolitan area are the fourth agglomeration in France (after Paris, Marseille and Lyon) with a population of about 1.3 million people. It is the administrative centre of France’s Nord-Pas-de-Calais Region. Lille has a superb and well-preserved historic centre with lots of monuments and museums. Lille is at the cross-roads of 3 major European capitals: Paris, Brussels and London. It is also a strategic node in the high-speed train network (TGV) connecting Europe: Lille is only 1 hour away from Paris, 1 hour and 40 minutes from London, and 40 minutes from Brussels.
A centre for higher education and research
Lille is renowned for youthful vitality, thanks to more than 150,000 students. Indeed, it is one of the largest French cities in terms of students, universities, institutes, schools and “Grandes Ecoles” (the elite higher-education centres). The town is home to three state universities (known as Lille I, Lille II, and Lille III) and France’s largest Catholic University. As a consequence, the metropolis boasts 340 research laboratories and 4,000 scientists. Lille is home to a National Health and Medical Research Institute and to the famous Pasteur Institute. No wonder that the city ranks second for medical research in France.
The entrepreneurial spirit
Endowed with an ideal geographical position, the Lille Metropolis has naturally become a hub of international trade and a magnet for foreign direct investment. The region boasts over 500 foreign funded enterprises, including world leaders and household names (e.g., ABN AMRO, Bayer, Bridgestone, BASF, Bombardier, BP, Campbell Soup, Coca Cola, Ferruzi, GAP, ICI, Mc Cain, Molnlycke, Pirelli, Siemens, Toyota, Unilever, US Robotics, Xerox, etc.). The region is also the cradle and home base of some of the major French firms (e.g., ACCOR, Auchan, Bonduelle, La Redoute, Peaudouce, etc.).
The performing arts
Lille houses dozens of theatres and concert halls. The region’s highlights include the Lille National Orchestra, one of France’s finest philharmonics with 120 performances a year, and a noted Opera with fifteen productions per season. Lille can cater for everyone’s taste: lovers of classical theatre as well as contemporary dance, jazz fans as well as amateurs of new musical genres.
Architectural heritage and museums
Lille has been able to preserve many civil and religious buildings from its ten centuries of history. Highlights include the Citadelle built by Vauban, the old Stock Exchange, the Grand Place, the Old Town with its amazing sculptures, pink bricks and white stones, and a 13th century hospital which now serves as a museum and a concert hall… Among its many museums and art galleries, Lille prides itself of hosting the second-largest Museum of Fine Arts in France. This museum is situated in a superb 19th century building and is home to a series of prestigious collections of European paintings, sculptures and other treasures. The wealth of the Fine Art Museum complements the collections of the some other museums in the region: the Modern Art Museum, the Natural History Museum, numerous art galleries, etc.
For further information please consult the following website: http://www.lilletourism.com/index_gb.php
