Europa League Special: Things For Liverpool Fans To Do In Lille

Goal.com UK turns travel guide ahead of Reds' trip to France

10-Mar-2010 2:30:00 PM

By Neil Jones | Liverpool Correspondent

Stade Metropole - Lille's ground


Liverpool fans could be forgiven for wanting to make the most of their trip to Lille this week. After all, given the poverty of the Reds' performance in Monday's Premier League defeat to Wigan Athletic, it is unlikely that the football will be the highlight of the sojourn to northern France.

Lille, and the Europa League, provide a welcome distraction from the troubles of the Premier League. And the city's accessibility, located just 60 miles in-land and based on the picturesque Deule river, means it is likely to invaded by thousands of Reds desperate for signs of revival in their side.

Lille's official tourist board describes the city as "an important tourist destination, recognised for its welcoming living environment, well-preserved heritage and active cultural life", a claim which some would argue, considering it is a city twinned with Leeds.

But Lille, like Liverpool in many ways, is a city on the up. It was named as Europe's 'Capital of Culture' in 2004 - an award bestowed upon Liverpool four years later - and has received major public funding in a bid to modernise a city which had long traded on its quirky traditions and classic architecture.

For football tourists, the Stade Lille Nord Metropole is not the most alluring of venues. An athletics stadium, originally built in 1976 (Lille moved there in 2004), the Metropole holds just over 18,000 spectators, and pales into insignificance when held up against the likes of Barcelona's Camp Nou, Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu and Milan's San Siro, all of which Liverpool have visited in recent seasons.

Yet across town, plans for a new arena are moving fast. The Stade Borne de l'Espoir was approved by Lille officials in 2006, and promises to be something pretty special. A 50,000-seater venue, with striking similarities to Bayern Munich's iconic Allianz Arena, Lille fans are getting pretty excited about their imminent move, which is expected to happen as soon as 2012. How Liverpool fans would love for similar transparency and optimism with regards their own new stadium.

Moving away from the sporting side of things, Lille - like most cities in northern France - houses plenty to keep the history enthusiasts entertained. The 19th century Palais des Beaux-Arts (Fine Art Musuem) is the second-largest of its kind in France - after Paris' famous Louvre gallery - and houses prestigous collections of European art from the likes of Rubens, Van Dyck and Goya, as well as countless classical sculptures, ceramics and ancient maps.

Or how about the birthplace of Charles de Gaulle? The famous French general was born in his grandparents' modest Lille home in November 1890, and baptised in the city's Saint-Andre church the same day. Today, both are popular tourist attractions in the city, with his birthplace converted into a museum, containing numerous keepsakes and personal belongings from the general's childhood.

And for the architects amongst the Reds' support, there is plenty to see. The 18th century Chamber of Commerce, founded by Louis XIV, is an iconic building with its 76m-high belfry - supposed to symbolise the city's power and status. Meanwhile, the Old Paris Gate - built to celebrate Louis XIV's conquest of the city in 1667 - provides a sight to match anything that Paris or Rome can offer, with its hand-sculpturing and carvings.


Majestic | Citadel de Vauban is the centrepiece of Lille

But arguably the centrepiece of Lille's heritage sites is the awesome Citadel de Vauban, a majestic fort built in the 17th century by Sébastien le Prestre, on the orders of Louis XIV. Its original purpose was to protect the city from the coast, given that it was part of a huge military stronghold, a component of the 'Pre Carre'. Indeed, the Citadel is still occupied to this day by the French army.

Like the Vatican in Rome, it is a 'city within a city', surrounded by bastions which create a five-pointed star when viewed from the air. Its reputation as the "Queen of Citadels" is justified, and it is a must-see for any visitor to the city.

For those seeking a more modern flavour to their experience, the vast expanse of 'Euralille' should be just the ticket. The area was designed in the late 1980s by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas as part of the city's urban regeneration project, and its arrival - glass and steel to the fore - heralded the changing of Lille from an industrial capital to a metropolitan, service-based, city.

The district boasts everything you would expect in a modern city. An auditorium, shopping centre, convention facilities, hotels and restaurants can all be found within the 2500 m² expanse - all of which stands on a 7m high, completely natural, foundation.

Getting around the city should not be a problem for Liverpool supporters. Lille boasts an efficient and eco-friendly tramway system, as well as a light-railway network - the first of its kind in the world - which links the city with the Belgian coast and ensures that passengers need only wait a maximum of eight minutes for a train - for those used to Merseyrail, that will be a most welcome relief.

Of course Liverpool fans will only enjoy their trip if their team head back to Merseyside with a positive result, but for a city which few Scousers know much about, Lille has plenty to offer, even in March.
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