Lille lies on the banks of the Deûle River in the north of France, very near the Belgian border. It is the capital of the Nord-Pas de Calais region and the prefecture of the Nord department, and is at the center of the fourth-largest metropolitan region in France.

History | Government | Economy | Demographics | Education/Culture

History
During the Middle Ages, Lille was part of the possessions of the Count of Flanders, and the city’s name probably derives from the Count’s castle, built on a marshy island (“L’Isle”) in the Deûle River. The region soon became well known for its weavers, and beginning in the 12th century, Lille’s cloth fair became an important regional market. For the next several centuries, the city suffered repeated conquests by a number of regional powers and empires before finally becoming a part of France in 1667. An entirely new plan for the city was drawn up, reflecting the French style of the period.

In the 19th century, the Industrial Revolution arrived in Lille. While continuing its dominance in the area of textiles, aided by Napoleon’s blockade of British imports, the city also profited from the discovery of coal deposits in the region. A rail link with Paris was established mid-century, and Lille continued to grow, tripling its surface area by annexing several neighboring towns.

Due its location near the French border, Lille suffered severe damage during both World War I and World War II. After the second world war, industry in the region declined, and by 1980 the city decided to reorient its economy toward the service sector. Following the introduction of the TGV high-speed train in 1993, the city’s improved connections to the rest of Europe have helped its economy grow once more, now as a center of business.

Government
The legislative body of Lille is a Municipal Council whose members are elected every six years by general election among Lille’s voters. The Council has authority over budget and city planning. The Mayor is appointed to a six-year term by each newly elected Municipal Council, and is in charge of city administration and public safety and prepares the budget to be approved by the Municipal Council.

Economy
In recent decades, Lille has seen major improvements to its transportation infrastructure. A key development was the decision to route the high-speed TGV train that connects London and Paris through Lille, helping the city take its place along one of the world’s key business corridors. Thanks to this connection and a major airport, Lille has been successful in attracting new service-sector investment to its three dedicated business parks – one for health, one for technology, and one for tertiary industry. As a result, services now account for 80% of the city’s economic output. Lille’s transportation connections have also raised its profile as a tourist destination and in 2004, the city was named a European Cultural Capital.

Demographics
Despite recent economic growth, unemployment in Lille remains relatively high at 14%, with 16% of households receiving less than half the national average income (compared to 8% in the country as a whole). These numbers point to Lille’s high income disparity, with residents concentrated at the top and bottom of the income scale and relatively few in the middle class. Lille’s population is young compared to many of its European counterparts, with about 37% of the population under 25 and only 13% aged 65 or over, compared to over 20% in some cities of the same size (Eurostat, 2006).

Education/Culture
Lille is home to several universities with over 97,000 students, giving the city one of the highest concentrations of student in France. The oldest of these is the State Université of Lille, which was established in 1854 with Louis Pasteur as its first dean and has roots stretching back to the 16th century. Other prominent universities include the Catholic University, founded in 1875, with well-regarded programs in engineering and journalism, and the Ecole Centrale de Lille, a graduate school of engineering. Lille’s culture is strongly influenced its proximity to Flanders and Germany. Locals call it “a city of beer and brick,” rather than wine and stone as in much of the rest of France. The Old Lille area features historic Flemish architecture and is a popular shopping destination. The 17th-century Vieille Bourse and the 19th-century Chambre de Commerce are both architectural landmarks, reflecting the central role that trade has historically taken in the life of the city. Lille is home to many museums and galleries, including the Fine Arts Museum, which is second in size only to the Louvre within France. The city is also the birthplace of Charles de Gaulle, and his home is the site of another popular museum. One of the city’s most popular attractions is its annual Braderie flea market, which lasts for two days and is said to have its origins in the Middle Ages.