Dating in Lille, from the Grand’Place to Old Lille

Grand’Place and the Old Stock Exchange

The Grand’Place, officially Place du Général-de-Gaulle, lines its Renaissance façades around the Column of the Goddess, offered by the people of Lille in memory of the 1792 siege. Right next door, the Old Stock Exchange, a jewel of the Flemish school, shelters a small cobbled courtyard where booksellers and chess players gather every afternoon. Meeting here after work, leafing through an old book together, then heading for a terrace on Place du Théâtre is a wonderful introduction to the city.

The Opera and the vista of Rue Faidherbe

Facing the Opera and the chamber of commerce crowned by its belfry, Rue Faidherbe draws a perfect perspective towards Lille-Flandres station. Its end-of-year lights attract strollers, and the surrounding cafés invite you to linger through the evening. A few steps away, Place Rihour and its Gothic palace recall the age of the Dukes of Burgundy. A ready-made route for a first date blending history, light and quiet pleasure.

Through the lanes of Old Lille

You then head up into Old Lille along Rue Esquermoise and Rue de la Monnaie, lined with eighteenth-century mansions and refined boutiques. The Hospice Comtesse, a former hospital founded by Jeanne of Flanders, feels like a secret palace, a stone’s throw from Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille Cathedral. On Lyad, singles from Lille share their favourite spots; it is up to you to find someone to climb those cobbles with and extend the walk.