Hotels Lille
What to see by car: Lille
 
There are a number of interesting towns that lie within easy driving access of
Lille.
Calais, just over an hour away, has a 13th century watchtower in the Place
d'Armes. It was close to this site that, in 1347, six Burghers offered their
lives if the English would spare the inhabitants of the town. This was after
Edward III had emerged as the victor of a seven-month battle over the territory.
The Burghers were spared only on the intervention of his wife, Phillipa of Hainault.
There is a famous statue by Rodin, just outside Calais Town Hall, to commemorate
the bravery of the six.
Other notable attractions in the town are the old harbour and lighthouse (La
Phare); the latter affords an excellent view of the port and its surrounds.
The fortified town of Cassel has been of great military importance in the area's
past. Legend has it that the Grand Old Duke of York from the nursery rhyme marched
his 10,000 men up the hill on which Cassel stands. In more recent history, General
Foch used Cassel as his headquarters between 1914 and 1915, and a defence was
set up just outside the town during WWII. Walking up the hill today, visitors
will be rewarded with excellent views across northern France and neighbouring
Belgium.
The small town of St Omer boasts some of the finest examples of Gothic architecture
in the area. Notre Dame Cathedral was constructed between the 13th and 16th
centuries. Its astrological clock was made in 1558 and continues to work with
its original mechanism today.
Boulogne is France's most important fishing port. It is historically notable
for the ancient Upper Town, which retains its original walls, cathedral and
château. The château was once home to the Counts of Boulogne and
is now a museum. The 12th century Beffroi provides superb views of the town.
The Lower Town has an excellent sea life centre - the largest in Europe - known
as Nausica. It covers all forms of oceanic life from plankton, to deep sea creatures
and sharks, and highlights the need for the protection and conservation of the
marine environment.
Selection of hotels in this region:
De La Paix Hotel | | Crowne Plaza Lille | | Hotel des Tours | | Novotel Lille Flandres | | Mercure Centre Le Royal | | Novotel Lille Centre | | Comfort Hotel Opera | | Carlton Hotel | | Express by Holiday Inn Lille | |
Click below for a
full list of hotels and online booking
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