Louis XIV of France thought the dowry of his bride, Maria Theresa of Austria, wasn't paid. And furthermore, bits of Flanders controlled by Spain should be his. The result was the War of Devolution and the siege of Lille in 1668. Louis attacked, and in 18 days the city was his.

Louis entered the city in triumph. He paraded through the Gate of the Sick (Porte des Malades), and received the keys of the city from the Magistrate. Louis had plans for Lille and the Gate of the Sick.

Louis quickly commissioned architect Simon Vollant to build the Paris Gate. It was finished in 1692, a monument to Louis and the annexing of Lille. The Paris Gate was erected in front of a guardhouse built on the site of the Gate of the Sick. In 1860 the guardhouse was demolished along with the city fortifications.

In 1895 the Paris Gate was redeveloped by architect Louis-Marie Cordonnier. Monsieur Cordonnier created a facade on the city side and renovated the surrounding Simon-Vollant Square. The result is two different facades.

The Paris Gate is an Arch of Triumph. On top two angels proclaim the victory of Louis XIV. On the left is a sculpture of Mars, god of war. On the right, Hercules stands, a symbol of strength. Allegorical figures of "Fame" and "Victory" make ready to crown the King. A draw bridge at ground level leads to a vaulted hall that opens to the city.

Has there ever been a belfry without bells? If no bells, why a belfry? That is a question for wiser heads. We know of a belfry with no bells. In Lille, France, the town hall belfry is the tallest municipal building in France and it has no bells.

The belfry tower was inaugurated in 1932. It is part of a reconstruction project to replace the old town hall, destroyed in World War I. It was built by architect Emile Dubuisson. Dubuisson was inspired to resonate his style with the traditional triangular gables of old Flemish houses.

The belfry is built of red bricks and concrete. It is slender and modernistic, attached to the stolid, grandiose town hall. They make a strange but harmonious ensemble. The city had previously three other bell towers. One was demolished in 1601. Another in 1856. The last came down in the Great War.

The current town hall and its tower were erected off-center, in the depressed Saint-Sauver district as a part of an urban renewal project of Socialist Mayor Gustave Delory.

The hall and the belfry show Classic Art-Deco and neo-Flemish elements common to the region. The tower utilizes a sculptured stone style of reinforced concrete. This allows for more strength. The belfry rises to a height of 338 feet. If you love heights, at the top there is a belvedere with nets. It is windy and high, an adventure!

Facing the fountains enclosing the sculpture "Group Of Three" on the Republic Square, is the Palace of Fine Arts. On the other side of the square is the imposing limestone structure, the Prefecture of Lille.

The museum is a grandiose building made in a French end of century style of official architecture. It has elements of the Italian Renaissance with columns, pediments and a French roof. There are two domed pavilions on either side of the monumental façade. The façade is set off with moldings. The wings have loggias and balusters.

The original museum was established by Napoleon in 1801. The Emperor's decree selected 15 French cities to house art seized from churches and occupied lands. The new Museum was opened in 1892 and renovated extensively in 1997. The museum now has 71,500 square feet of exhibition space making it one of the largest museums in France.

The ground floor has military fortification models by Sebastien de Vauban, the famous military engineer of Louis XIV. Sebastien shares this space with 135 French sculptures. On the second floor (French first floor) is a collection of Flemish and Dutch paintings. There are 19th century French paintings from David to Toulouse-Lautrec.

The Museum possesses over 70,000 pieces of Art. The collection includes works by Raphael, Donatello, Van Dyck, Rembrandt, Goya, El Greco, Delacroix, Rubens, Rodin and Chardin, to mention a few.

Julien Destree was a master cabinet maker and architect in the city of Lille in 1651. The city had obtained from King Philip IV of Spain a license to build an exchange (bourse) for the merchants of the city. Julien Destree was the man to make it happen. He was determined to create a great monument to commerce to rival the one in Antwerp.

The King had authorized "an exchange...surrounded and encloses 24 houses." Twenty-four plots of land around the market square were sold to traders. Construction of the galleries, paving the courtyard and the four entrances were undertaken by the city. Construction took place under the direction of Julien Destree from 1652-1653.

The building shows a Renaissance Flemish influence prevalent in the 17th century. Piers and columns richly adorned with garlands and horns of plenty are a paen to the commerce of Lille. At the top of the bell tower stands a golden image of the god, Mercury. Lille was in fierce competition with her sister cities, Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges.

In 1861 the stock exchange opened for business. It was a very modest exchange, not trading much more than 3% of its capital. In 1921 the new stock exchange building, the Chamber of Commerce, was opened. The Old Stock Exchange was indeed the "old" stock exchange.

The Old Stock Exchange is situated by the Main Square and the Theatre Square. It is an important landmark of the center of the city. It consists of a quadrangle of 24 look-alike houses surrounding a large courtyard. The courtyard today is a gathering venue for book stalls, florists, chess players, tourists and visitors.

The Old Stock Exchange can be reached by the Rihour metro station.

Why You Should Visit:
The old building sells a lot of things. Old books, coins, etc. The courtyard hosts games and bookstalls. The building itself is like a voyage back in time.

The Main Square of Lille was officially called "General de Gaulle Square" at the end of World War II. Among the good people of Lille however, it is often referred to as "The Main Square" As with New York, the Avenue of the Americas is "Sixth Avenue." Whatever it might be called, it is still the Main Square of the city.

In 1066 the area of the Main Square was referred to as the "forum." The forum was declared a market square. The ground was drained, leveled and paved and voila! A market square. In the 17th century, the Commodity Exchange divided the Square into the Main Square and the Little Square.

The Place du General-de-Gaulle assumes the role of Main Square. Oops, it is also referred to as "Place de la Decesse." Let us declare for Grand Place or Main Square. Today it is a venue for events and business exchanges. It is the traditional location for Lille book clearance sales, a major event.

The square is surrounded by a number of buildings. They include the Theatre of the North and the Old Stock Exchange (no longer the commercial exchange). In the center of the Main Square is the awesome "Column of the Goddess", memorializing the siege of Lille in 1792.

The square is paved in a checks of blue and pink granite. It is partially pedestrianized. It can be reached by metro first line Rihour station. There is also an underground car park with 342 spaces.

The miraculous statue of the Virgin Mary of the Trellis made its home in the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter from the 13th century until 1792. The gilded iron trellis wrapped around the statue was lost in the upheavals of the French Revolution. The statue was recovered and placed in the church of Saint Catherine, its iron trellis replaced with a wooden one.

In 1853 Charles-Kolb Bernard and his cousin formed a commission to build a fabulous new church in honor of Our Lady of the Treille. Land in the center of Lille was set aside for the construction. The 13th century Gothic styles shown by the cathedrals in Reims, Amiens and Chartres were pressed on the architects and builders.

At first the task was intimidating. It called for a building 433 feet long and spires reaching to 377 feet. The proportions were too large, the budget too small. The cathedral's main facade was not completed until the 1990s. The center is made of an ogive 96 feet high faced with 110 sheets of thick white marble.

A rose window dedicated to the Resurrection is by Ladislas Kijno. The main iron doorway was created by Georges Jeanclos. It is an enormous neo-Gothic building with a bold modern facade designed by architects Pierre-Louis Carlier and Peter Rice. In addition to services, the cathedral hosts concerts and it has a Sacred Art Center in its crypt.

The Cathedral is open all year. Guided tours are available.

The Charles de Gaulle Birthplace Museum, located on Princesse Street in the historical district of Old Lille, is a cultural and historical site dedicated to the early life of one of France's most esteemed figures. Originally the residence of Charles de Gaulle's maternal grandparents, this 19th-century mansion witnessed the birth of the future general and president in 1890. Since its opening to the public in 1983, the museum has attracted thousands of visitors annually, numbering between 19,000 and 20,000.

Managed by the Departmental Council of Nord and under the ownership of the Charles-de-Gaulle Foundation, the museum is recognized as a monument historique and has been bestowed the Houses of the Illustrious (Maisons des Illustres) label, affirming its significance in French heritage. The museum complex, known as the History Factory (Fabrique d'Histoire), is a blend of personal and historical exploration, displaying an array of family mementos, personal items, and documents that provide a glimpse into de Gaulle's formative years.

Rehabilitated in the early 2000s, the museum now offers visitors a comprehensive view of the family home's various rooms and a cultural center located in what was once the tulle factory run by de Gaulle's grandfather. This area has been transformed into a vibrant educational space featuring a chronological fresco of de Gaulle's life, a multimedia center, and activities tailored for younger audiences.

Visitors to the museum can immerse themselves in the historical ambiance of the period through its preserved architecture, period furnishings, and an extensive collection of artifacts that narrate the life of one of France's most celebrated figures. The Charles de Gaulle Birthplace Museum is not only a testament to the personal history of de Gaulle but also serves as an educational site where tourists and locals alike can delve into the rich tapestry of French history.

The Column of the Goddess stands as a poignant memorial in the heart of the city's Grand Place, or General de Gaulle Square (Place du Général de Gaulle). This memorial commemorates the Siege of Lille in September 1792, during the French Revolutionary Wars, a pivotal moment in local history marked by the relentless and heroic resistance of Lille's citizens against Austrian forces. Despite its limited strategic importance in the broader scope of the wars, the siege remains a significant event for Lille's residents.

For nine continuous days and nights, the Austrians bombarded Lille, resulting in substantial destruction, including the demolition of many houses and the main church, Saint-Etienne, located on the Grand Place. This church was never rebuilt, leaving the Grand Place notably devoid of a church or belfry, which is unusual compared to other central squares in similar cities like Bruges and Brussels.

The absence of a physical monument to remember the siege was felt until the mid-19th century. In response, local authorities decided to erect a memorial in time for the siege's 50th anniversary. The foundation stone was laid in September 1842, and the memorial was completed three years later in 1845.

Designed by architect Charles Benvignat, the memorial features a column topped by a statue crafted by sculptor Théophile Bra. The statue, an allegorical representation of the besieged city adorned with a mural crown, quickly earned the moniker "The Goddess" from locals. This nickname was reinforced by references in contemporary poetry. Since around 1990, the column has also been encircled by a fountain, enhancing its presence as a central and cherished landmark in Lille.

The Lille Opera (Opéra de Lille) is an example of Neoclassical architecture, seamlessly integrated with the adjacent Chamber of Commerce and Old Stock Exchange. The current structure was erected from 1907 to 1913 after its predecessor, dating back to 1785, was destroyed by fire in 1903.

The design of the new opera house was the vision of architect Louis Marie Cordonnier, selected through a competitive process. His Belle Époque style is evident in the building's grand façade, which features an elaborate pediment relief crafted by Hippolyte Lefèbvre. This is complemented by two bas-relief panels on either side, created by Alphonse-Amédée Cordonnier and Hector Lemaire. The interior of the opera house is equally striking, showcasing the artistic contributions of the prominent sculptor Edgar-Henri Boutry.

However, the building's completion was marred by the events of World War I. In July 1914, German forces occupying Lille requisitioned the still unfinished opera house, stripping it of its furniture and equipment to outfit the local Sebastopol Theatre. It wasn't until after the war that the opera house was fully restored, reopening in 1923 as the Grand Theatre. This reopening was celebrated with a French premiere (première française), marking a new chapter in its history.

The theatre again faced challenges in 1998 when it was forced to close mid-season due to deteriorating physical conditions. This closure led to an extensive renovation project aimed not only at restoring the building but also at enhancing its functional capacities. The renovation was completed in 2004, coinciding with Lille's designation as the European Capital of Culture, thus affirming the Opéra de Lille's status as a cultural and architectural landmark in the region.