Lille

Lille is one of France’s undiscovered gems. With the Old Quarter’s beautiful wide squares and a labyrinth of narrow cobbled shop-lined streets that stand out against the modern futurist buildings around the centre, the city is now a major tourist attraction. Its vibrant cultural life, with one of the best art galleries outside Paris, and thriving music scene, plus the annual Braderie – the biggest flea market and antique fair in Europe which takes place every September and when more than a million visitors create a virtual 36-hour street party – are rapidly making Lille northern France’s unofficial capital.