City areas
Unlike most medieval towns, Lille has not developed in a circular manner around a hyper-center. It looks more like a patchwork of neighborhoods, 12 districts to be more precise.
Interest areas
- Vieux-Lille
Highlights: The old quarter of the city with cobble-stone streets has among a variety of stylish designer shops and gourmet restaurants, the modern Cathédrale Notre Dame de la Treille, the Church of Saint-André and the Church of Saint-Catherine.
- Euralille
Highlights: This modern architecture urban area is centered on the new TGV station. It features the Tour de Lille, the Lilleurope and the Euralille shopping centre.
- Lille Centre
Highlights: It is the historical centre of the city, as well as the administrative and economic centre. Of the many historic buildings and squares, the most important are Place du General de Galle and Rihour Palace.
- Esquermes Vauban
Highlights: It houses the citadel, the Bois de Boulogne, Lille zoo and Rameau palace.
Directions: Metro – Cormontaigne.
Administrative areas
- Centre
- Lille-Sud
- Vieux-Lille
- Faubourg de Béthune – a rather poor residential area, often described as a “red light district”
- Ville de Hellemmes
- Ville de Lomme
- Bois-blancs – also known as the island of Lille (l’île de Lille)
- Fives – mainly residential
- Moulins – close to the city center
- Saint-Maurice Pellevoisin
- Vauban
- Wazemmes – a working-class neighborhood