Lille Tours and Attractions, France

Lille City Sightseeing Tour In the far northern reaches of France near Belgium, Lille sits astride the Deule River and recalls its wealthy past thanks to coal mining and textile (Lille cloth) industries. Now the hub of France's 4th largest metropolitan area and its 3rd largest river port after Paris and Strasbourg, Lille enjoys diverse economical endeavors. In 2004 Lille, along with Genoa, Italy, were elected European Capitals of Culture. Discover the city of Lille with a one-hour city tour. You will travel by minibus around Lille's historical sites, along water and green spaces to appreciate an extraordinary panorama of the city, from the origin to the most contemporary districts. You will see the Grand Place, the old city, the Town Hall and its belfry, the Fine Arts Museum and much much more.

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Founded in the 11th century, Lille is a town which has been Flemish, Burgundian, Spanish and finally French, the result of such a lively past has been the growth of eclectic districts that you can see today.

Audio-visual system available in 8 languages (French, English, German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese).

Belgian Battlefield Day Tour from Lille: Ypres Salient

Tour the Salient, the hottest spot on the front held by Imperial and Empire troops in World War One. Over a quarter of a million men gave their lives to hold this last bit of Belgium from the Germans.

History records three great battles fought at Ypres, but it was in fact a constant battle against shell, bullet, bomb, gas and rats.

On your day touring the Salient you'll tour some of the most important WWI sites, in the company of a first-class guide. You'll see the German cemetery in Langemark; the site of the first gas attack by Vancouver Corner, where flame throwers were introduced into modern warfare; John McRae's Essex Farm site; Hooge crater and museum; Passchendaele; and Tyne Cot cemetery.

You'll walk the moonscape of the Hill 60 battlefield and see literally dozens of memorials to British, Australian and Canadian regiments. You'll also spend time in Ypres itself, with the opportunity to visit St. George's Chapel and the Menin Gate Memorial.

With a maximum group size of 16 and a university-educated guide/driver to lead the way, you are sure to have a memorable and personal experience on this poignant tour of battlefield sites from World War One.

2-Day Small Group Tour of French and Belgian WWI Battlefields from Lille

If you'd like to tour the World War One battlefields of France and Belgium but don't want to join a large coach group, this two-day tour could be for you.

You'll have the opportunity to thoroughly explore the history of the Somme, Pozi�res, Beaumont Hamel, the Salient, Passchendaele and Ypres.

Accompanied by ex-army personnel or Battlefield Guides with postgraduate qualifications, you will gain fascinating insights into the Western Battlefields of Belgium on this small group tour.

With a maximum group size of 16, and a university educated guide/driver, you are sure to have a memorable and personal experience of these sobering sites from World War One.

Day One:
Tour the Somme battlefield covering major sites from the calamitous first day through the whole five months of the battle. You'll see Delville Wood, the Welsh memorial at Mametz Wood, the huge Lochnagar mine crater, the sunken road where the Accrington Pals were virtually wiped out, Sausage Valley, the Poziere battlefield and Windmill Hill, Courcellette, site of the first major use of tanks supporting Canadian troops, and the nearby tank memorial. An undoubted highlight will be your guided walk around the incredible preserved Beaumont Hamel battlefield site.

Day Two:
On your day touring the Salient you'll see, in the company of a first class guide, some of the most important sites that remain;the German cemetery in Langemark, the area of the first gas attack by Vancouver Corner,where flame throwers were introduced into modern warfare, John McRae's Essex Farm site,Hooge crater and museum, the Passendaelearea and Tyne Cot cemetery.

You'll walk the moonscape of the Hill 60 battlefield and see literally dozens of memorials to British, Australian and Canadian regiments. Spend time in Ypres itself with time to visit St George's Chapel, the Menen (Menin) Gate Memorial. Take an optional tour of the 'In Flanders Field' Museum.

3-Day Small Group Tour of French and Belgian WWI Battlefields from Lille

Tour the World War One battlefields of France and Belgium on a small group three-day visit. With three days to spend, you'll really explore the history of the Somme, Pozieres, Beaumont Hamel, the Salient, Passchendaele, Ypres, Fromelles and Loos. Other sites can be added according to your interests.

Accompanied by ex-army personnel or Battlefield Guides with postgraduate qualifications, you will gain a fascinating insight into the Western Battlefields of Belgium on this small group tour.

With a maximum group size of 16, and a university educated guide/driver, you are sure to have a memorable and personal experience of these sobering sites from World War One.

Day One:
Tour the Somme battlefield covering major sites from the calamitous first day through the whole five months of the battle.

You'll see Delville Wood, the Welsh memorial at Mametz Wood, the huge Lochnagar mine crater, the sunken road where the Accrington Pals were virtually wiped out, Sausage Valley, the Poziere battlefield and Windmill Hill (both important sites for Australians), Courcellette, site of the first major use of tanks supporting Canadian troops, and the nearby tank memorial.

Also included is Albert, the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing and the Ulster Tower. An undoubted highlight, however, will be your guided walk around the incredible preserved Beaumont Hamel battlefield site. Other sites will be added according to the interest of the tour participants.

Day Two:
On your day touring the Salient you'll see, in the company of a first class guide, some of the most important sites that remain; the German cemetery in Langemark, the area of the first gas attack by Vancouver Corner, where flame throwers were introduced into modern warfare, John McRae's Essex Farm site, Hooge crater and museum, the Passendaele area and Tyne Cot cemetery.

You'll walk the moonscape of the Hill 60 battlefield and see literally dozens of memorials to British, Australian and Canadian regiments. You'll also spend time in Ypres itself with the opportunity to visit St George's Chapel, the Menen (Menin) Gate Memorial. You will also have the opportunity to take an optional tour of the 'In Flanders Field' Museum.

Day Three
On this day you'll visit sites connected with the 1915 battles of Aubers Ridge, Festubert, and Neuve Chapelle, where the Indian Army gave a magnificent account of itself. You'll see where Adolf Hitler served and the bunker he is reputed to have used as a billet.

Australian's will enjoy seeing the Fromelles memorial. Tour the Loos battlefield, site of the disastrous battle of 1915, and Vimy Ridge where we take a tunnel tour.

Canadians will find this of special interest during the 90th anniversary commemorations. You'll also see sites in and around the pretty city of Arras including (subject to opening) the recently discovered underground hospital and the French National memorial at Lorrette de Notre Dame.

4-Day Normandy D-Day Landing Beaches Small Group Tour from Lille

This superb 4-day small group tour takes you to the D-Day Normandy landing beaches in France, tracing the events of the D-Day invasion by Allied forces in World War II.

Accompanied by a guide with expert knowledge of the battlefields and landing beaches, you will gain a fascinating insight into the history of D-Day and the liberation of France. With a maximum group size of 16, you are sure to have a personable and memorable experience.

After leaving Lille in your air-conditioned minivan, the first stop is Dunkirk, famous for 'Operation Dynamo', codename for the British evacuation of the port and one of the most celebrated military events in British military history.

En route, you will see the site of Le Paradis Massacre, where the Norfolks were executed by the SS, and the barn in Esquelbecq, where the Warwicks met a similar fate. Continue to your overnight accommodation in the picturesque Normandy port of Dieppe.

On Day Two the tour starts by visiting sites connected with the Dieppe landings of 1942, which involved British, Canadian and American units. Your guide will tell the story of 'Operation Jubilee', which aimed to capture and hold an established port to gauge the German response.

The tour then continues to the landing sites of no. 3 and no. 4 Commando at Blue and Green Beach, where the Canadian Regiments suffered great losses. After an enriching day you will transfer to Bayeaux and your overnight accommodation.

Day Three of the tour initially covers the British and Canadian landing and dropping zones. Visit the Gold, Juno and Sword Beaches, each of which tells a story of the epic events of 1944.

You will see the Mulberry Harbour in Arromanches, Pegasus Bridge, Cafe Gondree (the first house to be liberated), Merville Battery overlooking Sword Beach and many other places of interest including Divisional and Unit Memorials where you can pay respects.

The final day will be focused on the American involvment, visiting Utah and the 'bloody' Omaha Beaches and Coleville Cemetry, place of burial of nearly 10,000 servicemen. Stop at Ste Mere Eglise, where Paratrooper John Steeple famously got caught on the church steeple, and where the Iron Mike Memorial to the US Airborne Forces is housed.

Somme WWI Battlefield Small Group Day Trip from Lille

Step back in history on a small group day trip to the First World War battlefield site of the Somme in Northern France.

To most people the Somme signifies one day - July 1st 1916. It was the day that the British Army suffered its greatest ever losses in a single day with nearly 60,000 casualties.

But the actual battle for the Somme raged until November of that year, and saw massive fighting again in 1918. What remains is truly awesome. There are sites seen today that will be etched into your consciousness forever.

You will tour the Somme battlefield covering major sites from the calamitous first day, through the whole five months of the battle.

You'll see Delville Wood, the Welsh memorial at Mametz Wood, the huge Lochnagar mine crater, the sunken road where the Accrington Pals were virtually wiped out, Sausage Valley, the Poziere battlefield and Windmill Hill (both important site for Australians), Courcellette, site of the first major use of tanks supporting Canadian troops, and the nearby the tank memorial.

Also included are Albert, the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing and the Ulster Tower. An undoubted highlight, however, will be a guided walk around the incredible preserved Beaumont Hamel battlefield site. Other sites will be added according to the interest of the tour participants.

Lille City Pass

A practical must-have, the Lille City Pass is the answer to all your visiting needs, whether you're staying one day or longer. Make considerable savings in Lille, the capital of the Nord-Pas de Calais region.

The Lille City Pass Offers:

Free access to the Lille urban area public transport system (buses, metro and tramway)
5 percent rebate on certain products at the boutique of the Lille Tourist Office
Reductions and discounts in selected stores and restaurants
10 percent discount in the Les Galeries Lafayette store
A glass of aperitif "maison" with a meal purchased at member of the Club des Tables Gourmandes
Reduced price on segway rental
10 percent discount in Meert restaurant at La Piscine museum in Roubaix
An discount check book with offered at Mc Arthur Glen in Roubaix
10 percent discount in Le Paradoxe restaurant in Tourcoing
Reduced price for the spectacles of Atelier Lyrique de Tourcoing.
Special price at the Cinema from Le Fresnoy in Tourcoing.
The three day Lille City Pass gives you all of the above as well as free access to 8 tourist attractions in the Nord-Pas de Calais region and free access to the TER (regional express trains) network.

Some museums are closed on Mondays and/or Tuesdays as well as on the first weekend of September.