Find your perfect car hire at Lille Europe Train Station
A trip to northern France’s city of Lille guarantees a journey packed with cultural delight. From top museums and grand historic monuments, to beautiful parks and fine restaurants, there’s a treat at every turn in this notoriously friendly pocket of France.Make the most of your time in this fascinating yet underrated city with an Avis car hired at Lille Europe Train Station.
Plan your journey from Lille Europe Train Station
Take a short drive from the train station into the city centre where there’s much to see and do. Lille is home to one of France's top museums, the Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille. Housed in a grand 19th century building, the fine art collections here range from European paintings and sculptures, to antique pieces and 17th and 18th century ceramics.Other notable museums include the Lille Métropole Museum of Modern, Contemporary and Outsider Art and the Lille Natural History Museum. Another interesting cultural attraction is the Hospice Comtesse Museum, featuring original furniture and art dating from the 15th to 18th centuries.
Lille is also famous for its stunning parks and gardens. For a relaxing time out, locals and visitors head to the Jardin Vauban. Set over three acres, this public green space is modelled on a classic English country garden with immaculate lawns, romantic features, flowerbeds and ancient trees. Spot numerous monuments and even a waterfall.
Another popular escape to nature is the Citadel of Lille, boasting an expansive park and zoo. Located around a star-shaped 17th century fort that was built under Louis XIV’s rule, this huge attraction is set over 50 hectares. The zoological gardens feature hundreds of animals, including panthers, monkeys and zebras.
All this and more can be easily explored from the comfort of your Avis rental car.
Beyond Lille
There’s more to Lille than its glittering cultural centre. Accelerate beyond its city confines to discover a world of sights.Belgium
With the Belgian border around an hour’s drive from Lille, it’s very tempting to add another country to your road trip itinerary. Many interesting sights from the First World War lie close to the French-Belgian border, but the star attraction is Belgium’s capital Brussels – just an hour and a half down the road. From the Grand Place and the Royal Palace of Brussels, to museums and beautiful parks, visitors are spoilt for choice.
Head north from Lille and within just two hours you’ll arrive in the charming city of Bruges, home to tranquil canals, cobbled streets and incredible medieval architecture.
Lens
Many people visit the city of Lens (just a 30-minute drive south from Lille) for the massive Louvre Lens that opened here in 2012. A regional branch of the world-famous Louvre in Paris, this art museum is located on a 20-hectare former mining yard. Sensational art works and archaeological exhibits are displayed in this ultra-contemporary complex. Spend an afternoon in the Place Jean Jaurès, the centre of the town, where small boutiques, the Town Hall and the Saint-Léger Church can be found.
With an Avis rental car, the best of Lille and its fascinating surrounds can be explored at your leisure.