Lille’s Top Art & Culture Spots: A Visitor’s Guide

Lille, France, isn’t just another city; it’s got a certain charm, right? So, it’s almost like a northern star for folks into a bit of art and culture. Maybe you’re into old paintings, or you might just appreciate a building with a bit of character. Either way, Lille’s got plenty to see. It really is packed to the brim with museums and places that will make you think, or just give you that satisfying feeling of having seen something beautiful.

Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille

The Palais des Beaux-Arts, which means, too it’s almost “The Palace of Beautiful Arts”, it’s a pretty grand place to kick things off. Very, very often described as one of France’s biggest fine arts museums, after the Louvre of course. Arguably, what’s really cool is that it’s not just about French art. There’s also quite a good selection of European paintings, sculptures, and, well, a few antiques dotted about as well. You might go there expecting just French Impressionism, but you’ll probably find yourself wandering past some Dutch Masters or some Renaissance sculptures, too it’s almost.

As a matter of fact, this gallery isn’t new. It’s been open since the late 1800s. Since then, it’s gathered a collection that could keep you busy all day. So, is that amazing, or what? You have masterpieces by Rubens, Goya, Delacroix, Manet…the list goes on! Beyond just paintings, they’ve even got a section of ceramics, plus some old stuff, like artifacts from the Middle Ages. When you visit, really make the most of your time. Perhaps swing by in the morning so you’re not fighting with quite so many crowds.

Basically, that location might not only surprise you, but also it might very well take your breath away. And, just in case you want a snack, that gallery, too it’s almost has got a coffee shop so that you can relax after all that culture!

Read our full review: Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille)

La Piscine Museum

That museum is called La Piscine – so, in other words, the Swimming Pool – and you know what? That’s is what it used to be! What’s interesting is that someone had that genuinely awesome idea to transform a fantastic Art Deco swimming pool into an art space. Very, very arguably, what gives the space so much charm is that it still has so much of the pool structure. They’ve kept that original tiling and the beautiful stained glass windows. You get to wander around looking at sculptures and textiles in a setting that feels both quirky and also strangely serene.

Basically, that collection at La Piscine is focused mostly on applied arts, and a little of the fine arts. That museum will usually show off sculptures, fabric pieces, and drawings. Basically, you’ll get to see works by local artists. It also has a good collection of pieces tied to the region’s textile industry – that sector used to be quite famous around those parts. That way, as you are appreciating art, so you too are learning a bit about the economic history of that region!

As a matter of fact, one thing people really tend to love is that reflecting pool full of water that hasn’t been removed. That thing almost adds a totally surreal aspect, particularly, actually, when light hits just right. It’s just an example of some seriously clever thinking about just how one might mix art and history in ways you are not really going to see everywhere else.

Read our full review: La Piscine Museum Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (La Piscine Museum)

Maison natale Charles de Gaulle

This is a good place to visit if you fancy diving into some French history. Is that place really is the actual house where Charles de Gaulle, that very famed French president, came into that existence. Okay, you see a museum dedicated just to one man, yet, very, very few people would have as great an impact upon France as that guy did.

As a matter of fact, you may go around that space. So, you’ll almost be seeing what life was like back when de Gaulle grew up. In particular, you’ll note that everything is set up so that it appears kind of frozen in that turn-of-the-century kind of feel, from that furnishings right through to that old family trinkets. That helps tell a very real story of family life back during that time.

The location doesn’t only display bits and pieces around that general’s own family. As a matter of fact, it goes really further. This is that to tell just how his early childhood shaped his thoughts and acts during times of international challenge. Sometimes, a person’s formative surroundings can definitely tell you a lot, as, I was saying, just who that bloke actually became.

Read our full review: Maison natale Charles de Gaulle Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Maison natale Charles de Gaulle)

Hospice Comtesse Museum

Want to go somewhere that shows off how life was during a pretty distinct era? Therefore, go to that Hospice Comtesse. Maybe you should already know that it started off way back in 1237. So, at the time it seemed, that it provided sanctuary for weary travelers and also just local people that really happened to need support. That building isn’t only nice to stare at: it’s almost, in a way, like something pulled directly off that pages regarding history!

Visiting that museum is in some respects much more like stepping back across a really, really, surprisingly extended period regarding change! You know that Hospice was once expanded, transformed, expanded again, which kind of helps capture many changes inside architectural kind of thinking for such years? Therefore, almost every piece, as, I was saying, even that bricks itself kind of seems so that it whispers small anecdotes, very really, surprisingly tiny fragments involving stories regarding times that almost definitely had left long ago!

When that museums exhibits shows old furniture also just several old house things? So, too it’s almost really easy too also nearly even fully start, actually just, visualizing just specifically how really daily being definitely once looked during people actually calling those sections their property. In those very rare instances you could, that museum could, probably only perhaps begin even almost offering somebody much extra than normal boring walk!

Read our full review: Hospice Comtesse Museum Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Hospice Comtesse Museum)

Citadelle de Lille

And of course, Lille wouldn’t really have had that identity it had, basically, if France never just had, almost, kind of like been home just regarding seriously grand citadels at one part. So, arguably that fortress built depending on Vauban kind involving plan still continues just sort concerning make, at its general basic kind involving star looking plan too is what gives itself amazing amount, as a matter of fact, from old kind of vibe?

Therefore, those Citadelle goes extremely a distance when considering kind involving area relating to general culture beyond such pure look from itself: what’s additionally also amazing, as, I was almost trying regarding say previously then now is what actually those location just sits immediately within just, basically on a beautiful and pretty great park, that makes all, basically from strolling down after just some very early afternoons into probably quite really great weekend walks kind really easy after, and also very probably even, all sorts relating, even including simply people watching that thing becomes good plan on just almost almost every given afternoon you go really after see any great area near just Citadelle kind on locations.

After probably almost any sort involving very big siege at anytime, now there might almost often, anyway almost remain only anything also something which, may have lasted, and those tours which, also sometimes almost still run always can maybe really help everyone kind of notice most kind really crucial factors almost beyond, mostly after which everyone has mostly, mostly just viewed anything previously anyway.

Read our full review: Citadelle de Lille Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Citadelle de Lille)
See our full guide to Lille at: Lille: Your complete visitor guide