Things to see in Lille

Lille's most famous son, Général Charles de Gaulle, rose to fame as the leader of the Free French forces in exile in London during WWII. He became President of France in the 1950s, when he brought stability to a divided country, which was struggling to adjust to the post-war situation. The house where he was born in 1890 is now a museum and was in fact his grandparents’ house. Though not technically where he grew up, Maison Natale Charles de Gaulle still gives a good idea of what life was like for the young de Gaulle, with historic exhibits including his christening gown, as well as family photos and memorabilia.

Lille's main square is now an attractive pedestrian area overlooked by the Voix du Nord building (home of the North's leading newspaper, once the journal of the French Resistance in WWII). La Vieille Bourse (the Old Exchange), a centre where Flemish merchants traded their famous high-quality cloth, is on the left. Nowadays its vaulted courtyard ceilings overlook fondly-cherished stalls of secondhand books and vintage cinema posters. The Column commemorates the siege of Lille by the Austrians in 1792, and as a key part of Lille’s landscape it also serves as an unofficial meeting point for residents and visitors alike.

Standing at the foot of this impressive behemoth gives some idea of how newcomers to the city must have felt after its construction in the 17th century. The famed military engineer Vauban was responsible for its creation at the request of King Louis XIV, and today the citadel continues to be occupied by the military. The result features Vauban's signature starburst shaped tower, with five towers joined by ramparts, accessed by either the Porte Dauphine or the Porte Royale. Although occupied by the army, it’s still possible to visit by a guided tour from the tourist office. Take proof of identity for security purposes.

La Piscine Musée d'Art et d'Industrie is Roubaix's calling card. A former art deco swimming pool, the museum was inaugurated in 2010. In lieu of watery depths, it now welcomes visitors to a stunning full-length gallery, which is flanked at either end by beautiful stained glass panels. Every 15 minutes you'll hear pre-recorded splashes and crowd noise played over the sound system that recall the building's origins. Exhibits consist of paintings (including one by Robert de Niro Sr), sculptures and applied arts by the likes of Picasso and Rodin, not forgetting the famous sculpture ‘La petite Châtelaine’ by Camille Claudel, Rodin’s mistress.