Grand Place

The Grand Place is the place where you can almost feel the pulse of Lille’s city center. It was already the heart of the city in the Middle Ages, being the geographical, economic, social and administrative centre. This is where fairs and public executions were held! Although the current centre has shifted due to the expansion of the city over the centuries, the square remains the locals’ favourite meeting place. Its official name is now Place du Général de Gaulle, in honour of the liberator of France who was also a local boy. His birthplace, 9 rue Princesse, now houses a museum dedicated to his life. Recently renovated, the house contains period furniture and a large collection of family heirlooms that trace the childhood and rise of the man who was to become a key figure in the history of France. The museum is open every day except Tuesdays from 10 am to 6 pm. But let’s get back to our beautiful rectangular square, which, as you can see, is surrounded by charming Flemish buildings and emblematic monuments that remind us that we are indeed in the north of France.  Look around. You can see the Furet du Nord bookshop,  a true symbol of the city centre and an integral part of its historical and cultural heritage. It all began in 1921, when the Furet du Nord was actually a fur shop! It was bought by a secondary school headmaster who turned it into a university bookshop but kept the original name. In 1950, Paul Callens, then an employee, with a passion for books, and his wife bought the shop, and moved it to the Grand-Place, where it is now located. He expanded it over the years, gradually acquiring neighbouring buildings.  In 50 years, Paul Callens multiplied the space available to him by 50 and literally revolutionised the idea of the bookshop as it existed at the time, making books accessible to everyone, with permission to touch, leaf through and browse the shelves. As the FNAC, franchise moved into the Grand-Place in 1979, Paul Callens signed a historic non-rivalry agreement with this key player in the field. He closed his disc shop section while the FNAC agreed not to sell any books – an unprecedented agreement that lasted until 1992. Le Furet expands again with the acquisition of the Hôtel de Strasbourg and, after renovation, covers an area of over 8,000m², making it the largest bookshop in the world! This title is currently held by the Book Garden in Tehran, Iran, with its 65,000m². In any case, don’t hesitate to visit this incredible place, which is still the largest bookshop in Europe.