One day in Lille - France

Today is the last Friday before Christmas and I am heading to Chateauroux to spend Christmas at my sister’s where the rest of the family will be joining us from Paris, Marseille, Grenoble and Lyon. I have planned to spend a full day in Lille before taking the TGV to Chateauroux.

The Eurostar left St Pancras at 6.30am on this Friday and we are planning an arrival in Lille a little before 9.30am.

Lonely Planet guide

As the Eurostar heading to Bruxelles leaves Lille Europe in France, I look up and see a beautiful sun shining on a blue sky over Lille.
My first stop is the Relay shop in the train station: Yes, I had planned to spend the day, but I have yet no idea about what I can find in this “Ch’tis” country.  In the guide that I find, there are recommendations for places to eat, see and most importantly a map of the town.

Having taken few minutes to consider the guide, I leave my luggage at the “consigne” as I want to be hands free for the next 9hrs or so… to leave the luggage at the locker up to 10 hours only costs €5.50.

Armed with my guide and map the first pit stop is bien sûre Brioche Doree where I order a mini tartelette and a black coffee. I enjoy that tartelette so much that I nearly do a Meg Ryan there and then. Find the London Brioche Doree at 29-31 Picadilly.

Euralille view from Lille Europe station

Next was a tour of the shopping centre adjacent to the Lille-Europe station it is called Euralille (www.euralille.com). Here you will find Carrefour (for the vino stash and French confectionaries), you also find Celio for the best men’s jeans you will ever find, Yves Rocher for your natural beauty products and even a Hollister (I don’t like them). You will also find in Euralille a New Look, Zara and H& M with a French twist. In France, generally, all seems better presented; even the Chinese take away shop looks like a gourmet … it is all about presentation here.
By the time I have toured the shopping centre and reconnected with everything I am missing about France, I have already spent 3 hours in the centre.
 

Lille Flandres train station

Coming out on the other side of Euralille, you will find yourself in the centre of Lille with to your left the Tripostal, one of Europe’s biggest exhibition centre (free entry from Wed to Sunday).
The Tripostal is attached the station Lille Flandres and the Grand Place. Having shoved my guide back into my bag, I decided to walk 'au gres du vent' and aimlessly when I stumbled on the back of Eglise St Maurice about 5 minutes away from Lille Flandres. The church building which seems to have been built on a whole street is such a beautiful edifice that it would be a crime not to get inside to have a look... I did. According to the guide, this church was built in the 14th century and the stain glass work was all done by a local specialist…

Back of St Maurice

Front of St Maurice

On the other side of the church, opposite the Parvis St Maurice there is a pedestrian shopping area littered with restaurants, original shops like Pylones where every household item has a Manga version. Just click on the link to have an idea. The shop here on 18 Rue the Bethunes is very tiny but be careful with your credit card as you may spend on stuff you DO NOT NEED. Right opposite Pylones you will find a Gallerie Lafayette (yup, like in Paris, you will find everything you want in Lille).

Not far from this pedestrian shopping area, you will find the Metro Rihour which is one of the popular recommended stops in Lille. Here, you will be spoilt for choice if you want to eat something. A few of the guide’s recommended restaurants are situated here, so is the office of tourism and a war memorial to the dead of the 1^st and 2^nd world wars. Both the tourism office and the memorial are part of the same building and are said to have been built on the vestiges of the Palace of Rihour… You must go inside (free access) to really see that it was part of the palace. It is in the Office of Tourism that you will also pay for your ticket if you are planning to have a guided tour of the town. The tour cost €12 and lasts 55 minutes. See you next week for Part 2.

Next stops are: Theatre du Nord, a Jam specialist, two snack stops and a restaurant for dinner.

A bientot!