Given its location not far from Belgium, Lille offers a unique blend of architecture. A historical industrial center, Lille boasts a great deal of repurposed industrial buildings and monuments. Explore the Old Center or Vieux-Lille, a fantastic locale for apartment rentals in Lille, to get to know this unique flavor. You'll find 17th and 18th century townhouses as well as the typical narrow streets of many French cities. La Grande Place is a good place to start, both for orienting yourself and due to the beautiful buildings that surround it, including the 17th century Vieille Bourse building, which is the old stock exchange and has now been converted into a series of shops under the beautiful arcades. Throughout Lille, as in other northern cities, you'll find belfries at the tops of buildings. These are not religious in nature, and many of them can be climbed for a view of the city from above. When choosing your accommodations, seek out house rentals in the unique northern style, for a true taste of nice.
Food in Lille
Apartment rentals in Lille are the perfect excuse to sample some northern cooking, relatively unknown throughout the rest of France. Whereas most of France is famous for its wine, Lille and the north are better known for beer. Here, you'll find dishes like carbonnade, a sort of beef stew made from beer, as well as some unique products like Maroilles cheese. This famous cheese packs quite an aromatic punch – be careful not to stink up the fridge in your guesthouse! Sample these and other goodies at the weekly markets in Lille, like the Wazemmes Market, one of the largest in France, on Place de la Nouvelle Aventure. Seek out cheap apartments and head to the markets for your daily meals, and you'll quickly be on your way to an inexpensive yet fulfilling holiday in Lille!