Walking Down the Memory Lane of the old City

Lille is a very old city. It first emerged as a settlement in the 12th century, when it was little more than an island amid the marshlands (the French word for island is l’île, which gave the city its name). Since then, it has witnessed emperors, dukes, counts, and priests rise and fall. Positioned at the crossroads of European history, Lille has experienced the full range of civilization’s ups and downs — from the destruction and bloodshed of countless battles to periods of growth and prosperity. Through it all, the city has stood tall. This extraordinary historical richness can be discovered through a simple walk in the old district of Lille. This expedition was one of the very first I created on the website. Many of my fellow business school students loved it. It used to be a relaxed 1.5- to 2-hour walk through Vieux-Lille, covering almost the entire sweep of the city’s story from the 12th century to the present day.