Lille City Map Poster

About Lille

Lille (; French: [lil] ()) is a city in northern France, in French Flanders. On the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium, it is the capital of the Hauts-de-France region and prefecture of the Nord department. Lille is situated on an incline overlooking a bend in the river and its Canal de la Deûle. The original medieval centre was completely destroyed during World War I but was rebuilt after hostilities ended following its occupation by German forces from 1914 to 1918.[1] Today Lille has grown to become an important European centre for business and higher education,[2][3][4] with strengths in science, technology,[5][6] medicine[7], economics[8], philosophy,[9][10] law[11], literature[12],[13],[14],[15],[16]] politics [17](European Court of Justice), music , theatre and visual arts.[18]. From 1972–2000 it hosted one of Europe's biggest rock festivals every year attracting some 300 000 people.[19].