A beautiful but underrated city: where to go in France instead of much-hyped Paris

According to recent estimates, Paris has been named the most packed city in terms of tourists. Does this mean that we should give up on the idea of vacationing in France? Not at all.

The country has many beautiful cities and towns with an interesting history, many of which are greatly underestimated by tourists. One of these cities is Lille, according to the Express, an opinion of Lonely Planet columnist Tom Stainer.

Lille is the capital of the Nord department and the largest city in the Hauts-de-France region, and the city boasts a luxurious center that is great for tourists. Some say that the best time to visit Lille is in May and September, just before and after the peak season, but it will be interesting in other months as well.

The city boasts a truly multitude of ancient monuments, architectural gems, and world-class museums. This makes walking around Lille extremely enjoyable. A must-see is the Place du Théâtre, a large square in the city center with many stunning buildings, including the Opera House.

Another advantage of Lille is that it is compact. You don't have to spend money on transportation as you can get everywhere on foot.

As for the most popular attractions in Lille, Vieux Lille, the old part of the city, is ranked first by Tripadvisor. To see for yourself, visit the Grand Place, where various public events are held all year round, such as dance classes in summer.

The center of Lille is quite compact but filled with beautiful architecture. Among the classical French architecture, it is easy to distinguish Flemish influence as the distance to the Belgian border is quite short.

General de Gaulle Square has a prominent large monument in the center, which becomes the focal point of Christmas events in the city. A large Christmas tree and a 50-meter Ferris wheel are placed here.

Lille has a wonderful Christmas market on the Place Rihour every year. It is a small place not far from the Grand Place. There are 90 chalets selling Christmas gifts, as well as a large selection of food and drinks.

The Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille, one of the most famous art galleries in France, which houses the works of Donatello and Goya, is also not to be missed. For a more unusual artistic experience, head to the suburb of Roubaix to the La Piscine Museum to see the incredible works housed in a former Art Deco swimming pool building.

When it comes to local delicacies, this northern French city has several gems worth trying. La tarte au Maroilles is a savory quiche made from sour cream, butter, salt, pepper, and eggs. For dessert, choose gaufre a la vergeoise, a waffle with a sweet filling, which is sold all over Lille.

Subscribe to OBOZ.UA channels on Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events.