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Lille Car Hire

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The city is in the historic region of Flanders, in northern France, and over the last few decades has been transformed from a rather run-down city battling high levels of unemployment, to a lively, fashionable and thriving tourist and commercial centre. The city’s prosperity was originally founded on the cotton trade and textiles, and benefitted from one of the earliest rail lines in France being built between Lille and Paris. The city suffered badly in the First World War, with over 2,000 buildings and homes being destroyed and part of the city burnt to the ground. In 1983 the city opened the first automated rapid transport underground network, and in the following decade the high-speed TGV rail line was established between Paris and Lille. With the coming of the Eurostar, Lille has become an important hub in the Brussels, Paris and Lille triangle.

Things to Do in Lille

Most visitors to the city from the UK are likely to be arriving on the Eurostar, the quickest and most comfortable way to travel to the city. Arranging car hire in Lille, whatever your requirements, is also easy through GoCarHire.co.uk. The city’s Grand Place is the place to start your exploration of the city. A magnificent open square with the 17th century Flemish style Vieille Bourse at its heart, you can stroll round little market in the courtyard of the Bourse or have a coffee in one of the cafes overlooking the square and its monuments.

Top 3 Must See: Lille

• La Vieille Bourse

• Palais des Beaux Arts

• La Grande Braderie de Lille

The Palais des Beaux Arts has a wonderful collection of paintings and sculpture, including works by Goya, Donatello, and Veronese, and the building itself is of interest, with the multiple fountains playing over the cobbled square outside. The Rue de Bethune is the place to go if you want to browse and shop, or eat at the famous “Au Moules” restaurant. For enthusiasts of modern art, Le Tri Postal hosts exhibitions of contemporary art, and the Musée de l’Art Moderne also repays a visit, with its dramatic architecture and collection of modern masters. To find a bargain, and for a real fun experience, try La Grande Braderie de Lille, an enormous flea-market, where you can easily spend a day browsing the many stalls.

Drive Around Lille

If you have arranged car hire for your stay in Lille, make sure that you have a satnav in the car, as this will make getting across the city significantly easier. Lille has a ring road, with the major north/south and east/west autoroutes coming off it like the spokes of a wheel, so it’s easy to travel from the city to other destinations. The A1 will take you to Paris, whilst the A22 makes a day visit to the beautiful town of Ghent an easy trip. And for onwards travel to Brussels, the A27 is the entry to Belgium.