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Colors of Lille - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Lille attracts tourists not only with its unique attractions but also with fascinating traditions and the great variety of holidays and festivals. Local residents are not indifferent to modern art and culture, to which a significant part of the holidays is devoted. Classical culture is given due attention as well. Lille has its national orchestra whose performances accompany all major holidays. Classical music festivals are regularly held at the Théàtre du Nord, Gare Saint Sauveur, and other cultural venues.
Guide to Lille sightseeing - things to see and to visit
Lille is the fourth largest city of France that perfectly combines culture and history of Flanders, France and Norway. It is located in Nord-Pas-de-Calais region and is known as the … Open
Themed festivals dedicated to contemporary music stand in contrast to this kind of events. A few years ago, Lille hosted the Nord.Art.Musique.Electronique Festival dedicated to electronic music. It was visited by tens of thousands of tourists from all over the world. A new city is chosen for the N.A.M.E. every year, and in Lille, huge open-air stages were set up in the immediate vicinity of the city. Participation in the festival is considered to be very prestigious, therefore, it is always visited by performers from various European countries.
Lille is also a frequent venue for the Art Up! This contemporary art fair brings together young artists, sculptors, photographers and designers who are given the opportunity to demonstrate their creativity to the public. Lille has many art galleries and museums, which become venues for young talents during such holidays. Festivals are not limited to exhibitions alone. Within their framework, they also hold meet-and-greets with prominent artists, master classes, as well as special educational programs for children. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
Family holidays with kids in Lille. How to entertain your child, things to show to children.
Lille has many excellent entertainment centers. Fans of game simulations will like the center AviaSim Lille. In this center, everyone can feel himself as a professional pilot. On special … Open
One of the brightest and most ambitious for the city is Lille 3000 Fantastic Art Festival. Its program covers several weeks, during which hundreds of exhibitions, music and theater performances, and film screenings are organized. For the period of the festival, the city turns into a huge open-air art venue where original art installations devoted to the most relevant topics of our time are installed everywhere.
beffroi de la mairie de Lille Unusual designer jewelry appears in popular local museums, churches, and even in hotels. The festive transformation of the city is noticeable to everyone. A significant part of the festival's activities is free of charge so everyone can enjoy exhibitions and performances of novice artists. Lille is a permanent venue for the Lille International Short Film Festival.
Cuisine of Lille for gourmet with top restaurants and cafe
Local cuisine features a large variety of dishes and unexpected combination of different taste characteristics of components. In Lille chefs aren’t accustomed to spare time and money; … Open
Such an eventful holiday program makes the life of the city incredibly interesting. Its residents have long been accustomed to large numbers of foreign guests, therefore tourists are treated friendly and with some curiosity. The inhabitants of Lille are very sociable, especially on holidays, when such a positive attitude to new acquaintances and easy conversations is manifested most strongly. One of the main features of their character is pride in national identity and mother tongue, which is considered to be "the best in the world".
Lille Even though most locals have a good command of foreign languages, they are extremely reluctant to speak them. It would be more advisable for tourists to learn a few simple phrases in French or just use gestures instead of trying to communicate in English. For local residents, the observance of etiquette is appropriate in any situation. It is customary to say hello and goodbye to any person providing any service. Such behavior will be appropriate in hotels, restaurants and small shops, as well as in government and cultural institutions.
Excursion over cultural sights of Lille - 'must visit' points of interest
Each point of interest in Lille is a unique facility with its own history and characteristics. Indigenous architectural and historical monuments will certainly impress those who aren’t … Open
At the same time, it is not customary to give up a seat to the elderly in public transport. This gesture of courtesy can even offend older people. It would be interesting to visit Lille during national holidays. Here, Christmas and New Year are always celebrated on a grand scale, decorating the streets with festive illumination. Traditional fairs, street performances, as well as entertainment programs for children are organized in squares. The most beautiful and interesting spring holiday is Easter, and on April 1, Lille celebrates April Fool's Day. On this day, it is customary to hold bright carnivals, dress up in colorful costumes of jesters and clowns, have fun, and walk around until late at night.
This guide to traditions and festivals in Lille is protected by the copyright law. You can re-publish this content with mandatory attribution: direct and active hyperlink to www.orangesmile.com.
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City tours, excursions and tickets in Lille and surroundings

Reference information
Map of all churches
Cathedrals and basilicas near Lille
♥   Basilique-Cathédrale Notre-Dame de la Treille, Lille, 0.8 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Tournai, Tournai / Doornik, 22.9 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Basiliek Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Dadizele, Dadizele, 24.3 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Basilique Notre-Dame de Bonsecours, Bon-Secours, 41.1 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Basilique-Cathédrale Notre-Dame et Saint-Vaast, Arras, 43.1 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Basilique Notre-Dame du Saint-Cordon, Valenciennes, 44.9 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Basilique-Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-Grâce-et-St-Sépulcre, Cambrai, 52.6 km from the center. On the map   Photo
Map of all castles
Survived castles around Lille
♥   Castle 'Château de Wineck' Bas-Rhin, 8 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Castle 'La Royère Castle' , 15.5 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Castle 'Spiere Castle' , 25 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Castle 'Château de Montmonrency' Nord, 30.7 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Castle 'Rumbeke Castle' , 33 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Castle 'Ingelmunster Castle' , 34.4 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Castle 'Château de Olhain' Pas-de-Calais, 41.2 km from the center. On the map   Photo
Car rental on OrangeSmile.com Rentals in Lille
Detailed Lille maps
Lille metro maps
Tram map of Lille
Lille photo gallery

Travel News
Preferred to Open 9 New Hotels in 2022

In September 2022, the Sommerro hotel in Oslo will start operating in a carefully restored 1930s Art Deco building. This building is a true landmark of Frogner, a historic neighborhood of the Norwegian capital. A multi-million-dollar renovation carefully turned the largest preservation project in Norway into a modern hotel with 231 rooms, including 56 residences. Preferred will open five more hotels in 2022, namely, The Wall Street Hotel in New York, Amrit Ocean Resort & Residences on Singer Island (Florida, the US), TOA Hotel & Spa in Zanzibar, Pendry hotel in Washington, and Pendry Park City hotel in Utah. Read this

04.06.2023

Colors of Lille in photos

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Traditions and festivals in cities around Lille

Kortrijk
Locals have a very welcoming and hospitable attitude toward foreigners, they are always willing to talk with tourists who show interest in the national culture and history. However, there are a number of topics that aren’t recommended to rise. In any case the importance of certain historical events shouldn’t be called into question. Natives are proud of their history and ... Open »
Brugge
Travelers can buy beautiful jewelry as a souvenir in Bruges. It is believed that the local jewelers cut diamonds according to special rules and use the same method of processing gemstones as their ancestors many centuries ago. The local inhabitants are very friendly to tourists who are just captivated by the kindness and hospitality of the city’s people. An important ... Open »
Oostende
One of the most unusual holidays in Ostend's cultural calendar is the Sand Sculpture Festival. The main venues for this festival are city beaches, which are actively supplied with sand before the big day. Talented artists and sculptors use it to create amazingly beautiful sand figures. The theme of the festival changes from year to year. Every year, more than forty artists ... Open »
Calais
There is an ancient tradition in Calais. Two times a year, Place d'Armes that is also referred to as “the heart of Calais” hosts interesting fair trades. Every Wednesday and Saturday, a market, in which local farmers and artisans sell their goods, opens on the square. This tradition has appeared after the end of English occupation – invaders opened a market on the ... Open »
Mechelen
Mechelen residents are proud of their amazing history. Over hundreds of years, the city has gotten a lot of interesting symbols and traditions. One of the most interesting symbols is carillon - an old musical instrument, which has been undeservedly forgotten in the world culture over the past hundred years. The instrument consists of a set of bells that are very reminiscent of ... Open »
Antwerpen
Many centuries ago local residents were famous as refined gourmets. They have remained very skillful in food until our days. The reason for this is in the fact that this large port city has always had a large choice of different types of food. Ships coming from distant lands brought delicious seafood, rare wines and liqueurs here, as well as unusual spices and seasonings – a ... Open »
Cityguide on traditions, mentality and lifestyle of people in Lille. Learn the best periods to visit Lille to discover its soul - authentic festivals, events and celebrations. We will also reveal the interesting habits, attitude towards the world and to tourists in Lille.
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