Looking up while walking through the streets of Lille reveals an exceptionally rich architectural heritage. Colourful facades, scrolled gables, row houses and sculpted pediments bear witness to centuries of Flemish and French history. A legacy that bargain hunters at the Braderie tread upon each year without always noticing.
The Flemish heritage
Lille was Flemish for centuries before becoming French in 1667. This eventful history has left a deep architectural imprint. The houses of Old Lille, with their narrow facades of brick and stone, their stepped gables and mullioned windows, are directly inherited from the architecture of the Southern Netherlands.
Lille's "rangs"
The rang is a set of identical houses built in series, typical of Lille's urbanism in the 17th and 18th centuries. The most famous are the Rang du Beauregard on the Grand'Place and the Rang on the place du Théâtre. These harmonious alignments create a striking visual unity that makes the city centre so beautiful.
The Vieille Bourse
A jewel of Lille's heritage, the Vieille Bourse (1653) is a masterpiece of Flemish Mannerist architecture. Its 24 identical houses surround an inner courtyard where antiquarian book markets and tango demonstrations take place. During the Braderie, it is one of the most photogenic spots.
Recommended architectural walk
To admire the finest of Lille's architecture, start from the Grand'Place towards rue de la Monnaie in Old Lille, pass by the town hall Belfry, then join rue Royale and its 18th-century mansions. Finish with the Vauban Citadel for a monumental finale.