Since it carries the name Bourse it suggests that this used to the the former stock exchange,…read morethough considering that were are now in France I would have thought that the Stock Exchange would have been located in Paris. However, what this place actually is is a market place, and when we wandered through here on Sunday discovered that all of the regional booksellers had descended upon the town to begin selling their wares. Basically you could find quite a number of second-hand French books as well as numerous posters and other things (such as records). There are also a number of shops around the outside that are basically regular shops, but if you are looking for a bargain then definitely step inside and have a bit of a look around.

A brilliant building to check out in the middle of Lille. Inside there is also a book market and…read moresome art works sold which is quite a wonderful use of space in the Old Stock Exchange!

Lille is a visually spectacular city, and the Grand Place, for me, was the icing on the cake. To…read morejust sit in this square and marvel at the buildings and soak in the atmosphere is really quite a wonderful thing to do. It's a wonderful place to sit in the sun, and there's a number of bars and eateries in the area too, well worth checking out.

When in Lille, test your vertigo and head up into the sky on this giant Ferris wheel. I promise,…read moreit'll be one of the best 5E you've ever spent. I was lucky enough to swing through Lille just a few days after this seasonal attraction went up. When I realized that I had a few minutes in between meetings and the bright blue crisp winter sky was beckoning for a closer look, I snapped up some tickets for myself and my colleagues to soak up some local flavor. The ride lasts only five minutes so even if you're terrified for your life you won't suffer that long. The ascent is really intense, but the ride is smooth and as you crest the top of the wheel you really feel a surge of super human energy. Breath deep, smile (while not shaking things too much) and enjoy the exceptional 360 degree view. You only live once, this is what it's all about.

From the owner: Grande et fière statue Point de rendez-vous incontournable des lillois, cette statue fut offerte…read morepar le peuple français en souvenir de la résistance de Lille face aux Autrichiens lors du siège de 1792. Surplombant une fontaine aux jets d'eau variés et rieurs, la déesse, sculptée par Bra, a les traits de Madame Bigo-Danel, femme du maire de l'époque.