Car Hire Lille
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Lille Geography/Overview
Capital of the region Nord-Pas-de-Calais and near the border with Belgium, Lille is a very typical city from Northern France. Indeed the industrial background is still present but Lille is becoming more and more important as a major city of Europe. This is a very lively city full of students and so called "ch'tis" - the residents of Lille.
Lille History
Lille was formerly called L'Isla (from the Latin Insula, meaning island) since it was born out of the water of the local river De»le. Successively Flemish, Burgundian, Spanish and French, the city has been besieged eleven times. It definitely became French in 1667 after King Louis XIV successfully captured Lille.
The 18th century is associated with the growth of the city and the opening of many cotton and linen mills. With Tourcoing and Roubaix specialised in wool, the area quickly became a great industrial power. Moreover a large coalfield was opened and helped the region to grow wealthy until the World War I.
Lille suffered a lot from the two World Wars and the following industrial crisis. A period of restructuring began in the 90's to allow Lille entering the third millennium with assurance.
Car Hire Lille
Find your rental car at Auto Reservation Plus and discover Lille and its surroundings. Get a luxury rental car and explore the picturesque streets of the Vieux Lille.
Hire a car for all your excursions around Lille. From the Museum of Art and Industry located in a swimming pool in Roubaix to the Fine Arts Museum of Valenciennes near the Belgian border, a car will help you get to all the cultural places of northern France.
Lease a cheap rental car and enjoy a day on the beach in Dunkirk (Dunkerque in French): visit the harbour city, go shopping, surfing or sailing. You can also easily drive to Bruges, the Belgian city world-famous for its fine chocolate. This romantic city is only one hour from Lille.
Practical Information about Lille
Getting to Lille
By Air
Only 10 km from the city centre, Lille Lesquin International Airport is used for domestic and European flights. A shuttle service is operated to the train stations downtown.
By Train
The Gare Lille - Europe is for high speed trains TGV and international services. If you come from London, the Eurostar can get you there in less than two hours.
The Gare Lille - Flandres is used for lower speed trains, intercity and regional trains. Trains to Paris also depart from this train station; with the high speed railway service, you will be in Paris in only one hour.
Lille places/events not to be missed
Designated as a European Culture Capital in 2004 Lille is a must-see destination. Enjoy a tour in Lille and discover the Place du General De Gaulle (Grand Place) as Lille is the birthplace of the General. There you will see the Vieille Bourse - where you can now find some booksellers and a flower market - the statue of a Goddess commemorating the siege of Lille in September 1792 and the architecture of the Grand Garde.
The old city is also worth a tour, enjoy a French meal in one of the numerous restaurants and have a look at the Cath»drale Notre Dame de la Treille. And do not forget to go the Place Rihour and enter the Palais Rihour where the tourist office is located.
Annual events
The famous "Braderie" taking place at the beginning of September attracts each year more than 3 million visitors. There you can find whatever you want» and even what you do not want! Everything is sold in nearly all the streets of Lille. This is also the good place and moment to taste mussels and beer.
The Christmas market in December is also worth a tour.
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