A 48-hour city break in Lille, between institutions and curiosities

Just a few kilometres from Lille, the town of Roubaix and its history arouse the curiosity of even the most ardent fans of northern France's past. The rehabilitation of old textile factories and the modern development of textiles and fashion are at the heart of the architecture and spirit of this town on the border with Belgium.

To kick off our visit to Lille, let's get out of Lille. Let's head for Roubaix to visit one of the city's must-see attractions: La Piscine, the André Diligent Museum of Art and Industry in Roubaix. The exceptional setting of this former Art Deco swimming pool, built by Albert Baert in 1932, is home to numerous collections of applied and fine arts. Paintings, sculptures, textiles, ceramics and drawings from the last few centuries. Easily accessible by tram or metro, this little getaway outside Lille is well worth the diversions!

Back in the centre of Lille, climb aboard a bus to discover the most emblematic monuments and streets of this city of 1001 charms. From the comfort of your seat, you'll have an effortless overview of the city: the Palais Rihour, the Grand'Place, Rue Faidherbe, the train stations, Vieux-Lille, the Royal Quarter, Euralille, the Saint-Sauveur district, the Town Hall and its belfry, the Porte de Paris, the République district... The urban puzzle then makes sense, helping you to prepare for future visits.

Cultural visits make you thirsty! It's hard to be in the North of France without trying one (or two) beers brewed in the area. Near the Notre-Dame de la Treille cathedral, on the corner of rue des Trois Mollettes and rue Doudin, visit the bar La Capsule. Specialising in beer, this bar offers no fewer than thirty craft draught beers. A selection of bottled beers is also available, so all you have to do is choose!

• Address: 25 Rue des trois Mollettes, 59800 Lille
• Opening times: 5:30pm - midnight on Mondays, 5:30pm - 1:00am on Tuesdays, 6:00pm - 1:00am on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 5:30pm - 2:00am on Fridays, 4:00pm - 2:00am on Saturdays, 6:00pm - midnight on Sundays.

In the early evening, head for rue de Gand, where the typical estaminets, Lille's historic restaurants, are plentiful. At La Vieille, guests are welcomed in the Flemish tradition, and all the dishes reflect this. Carbonnade flamande, welsh, maroilles in all its forms and chicons (endives) are all on the menu.

• Address: 60 Rue de Gand, 59000 Lille
• Opening times: noon - 2.00pm / 7.00pm - 10.00pm Monday to Friday, noon - 2.00pm / 7.00pm - 11.00pm Saturday

Wake up to a sweet and savoury morning in the Vieux Lille district, where the Ogre de Carrouselberg pastry shop is all the rage every day! Go for the classic croissant au beurre or petit pain au chocolat and head for the Parc Jean-Baptiste Lebas to enjoy it in the fresh air. Those with a sweet tooth can opt for one of the delightful pastries on display.

• Address: 17 Rue des Vieux Murs, 59800 Lille
• Opening times: 10am - 6.30pm Wednesday to Friday, 9.30am - 6.30pm Saturday, 9.30am - 1pm Sunday

Once you've enjoyed this tasty viennoiserie, it's time for a digestive stroll in the park! Chestnut and lime trees shade the paths used by walkers and runners, in a relaxed atmosphere. The Parc Jean-Baptiste Lebas, with its legendary red railings, is one of dozens of recognisable parks in the heart of Lille, offering a rejuvenating green space.

For the more adventurous, head for the Town Hall and its belfry, just a few metres away. From the top of the belfry you can climb 400 steps or take a lift up to enjoy a 360° panoramic view of Lille and the surrounding area: the Lys valley and even the Monts des Flandres, when the weather is right.

Then head back to Vieux Lille, where enjoying a stroll means looking up to appreciate the diversity of 17th-century architecture. Magnificently restored, the district boasts colourful facades, where Lille's architecture is illustrated by the exuberance and profusion of its decorations.

To fully immerse yourself in the real Vieux-Lille, head for the Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille cathedral. The streets around the cathedral - rue de la Clef, rue de la Grande Chaussée, rue des Chats-Bossus, Place des Oignons - are some of the oldest in the city.

You can't visit Old Lille without visiting the Grand'Place! Firstly, because it is right in the middle of the city, but above all because it is one of its symbols and THE meeting place for the people of Lille. Situated at the crossroads of the great fairs between North and South, the Grand'Place dates back to the Middle Ages.

Without doubt the most unusual building on the square, the Vieille Bourse was built between 1652 and 1653 and now houses second-hand booksellers in its courtyard. Its 4 facades are made up of 24 identical houses.

Born in Lille in 1890, Charles de Gaulle left a number of traces in the city that are now on public display, not least the house where he was born. At 9 rue Princesse, this 19th-century bourgeois residence was home to one of the men of French and world history. It has been open to the public since 1983, and includes the living quarters, a temporary exhibition space and a Multimedia Centre with an auditorium. Its role is to transmit the memory of the place and its inhabitants as well as to be open to history by encouraging encounters and exchanges.

After visiting the house where General de Gaulle was born, there's another place to get even closer to this illustrious figure: a gourmet shop. At 27 rue Esquermoise, you'll find one of Charles de Gaulle's favourite places: the Meert patisserie.

Whenever he was in Lille, he never failed to buy the now famous flat waffles filled with sugar, butter and Madagascan vanilla. He was so crazy about this delicacy that, it seems, he even had some delivered to the Elysée Palace! Founded in 1761, the Meert patisserie has become a veritable institution, with its waffles delighting many a taste bud.

To round off your 48 hours in the heart of the capital of Flanders, head for the centre, adjoining Vieux-Lille, to explore one of France's richest museums. Housed in a magnificent nineteenth-century building, Lille's Palais des Beaux-Arts boasts an impressive array of collections: European paintings (Delacroix, Rubens, van Dyck, Goya...), nineteenth-century French paintings (David, Courbet...), nineteenth-century sculptures (Rodin, Claudel...) and seventeenth- and eighteenth-century ceramics... The perfect cultural stop-off at the end of this city-break.