Lille France's fourth largest city, is located to the country's north, on the Deule River. It is the capital of the Nord-Pas de Calais région. It is also the capital of the Nord département. It lies near the border with Belgium and its Dutch name is Rijsel

FACTS AND FIGURES

• Population: 170,000
• City's textile industry dates back to Middle Ages
• With over 144 000 students, the metropolitan area of Lille is one of the first student cities in France
• Lille tried an unsuccessful bid for the organization of the Games of the XXVIIIth Olympiad in 2004

SIGHTS AND ATTRACTIONS

• Old town features Flemish architecture from 17th and 18th centuries
• Star-shaped citadel
• Palais des Beaux-Arts, prestigious art museum features works of Goya, Donatello and Veronese
• Old Stock Exchange, designed by architect Julien Destrée (circa 1653) is a magnificent example of the Flemish baroque style.