| Although it is a medium-sized city in the Nord-Pas de | | | | Margaret Thatcher and in 1987 the station (French |
| Calais, Lille is the fourth biggest city in France. It is | | | | railway) accepted a path for the future line of the |
| known for its credible city centre and its very active | | | | TGV via Lille. Although the city could was financially |
| cultural life, as it was voted the joint European Capital | | | | bleeding dry around this time as it was unable to meet |
| of Culture in 2004. | | | | the costs of the project. This lead the city having to |
| EuraLille helped Lille get back on the map as it was | | | | sell a few building rights to developers of large backed |
| once a place where you wouldn't think twice of going | | | | banks. |
| to but now it is one of the major cities in Europe with a | | | | EuraLille covers 110 acres of land and includes over |
| lively atmosphere and can boast some of the best if | | | | 740,000 m2 of floor space which includes offices, |
| not cultured villas in France. | | | | businesses, shops, homes and appliances, and a major |
| The city itself has a strong industrial background but | | | | program of parks and public spaces. |
| this is after some difficult years it had. It was once | | | | EuraLille is home to some amazing structures that |
| known as a once-grimy industrial metropolis, its | | | | such as the unique Tour de Lille that overlooks the |
| economy was based on declining technologies. But it | | | | Europe Railway station Lille, this tower of offices is the |
| has transformed thanks to the government, it is now a | | | | fourth largest building in the province with it being 120 |
| an exciting city of Europe. The vibrant economy of the | | | | feet high. It has become a symbol of the revival of the |
| million-strong city-region is symbolised by the brand | | | | city of Lille, hence why the name was changed from |
| new business centre of EuraLille. | | | | the Credit Lyonnais Tower. There is also the second |
| EuraLille is the business district in Lille and the third one | | | | largest largest building the Toure Lilleurope that is a |
| in France after La Defence in Paris and the Part - Dieu | | | | mixed of concrete and structural steel which made it a |
| in Lyon. It is built right next to the new high speed train | | | | real technical challenge to build. |
| station of Lille where passengers come from the | | | | If you are into shopping then maybe you would like the |
| Eurostar. It also has the network of underground | | | | EuraLille (mall), the inside is just as amazing to look at |
| system (metro) in the world. | | | | as the outside is! Composing of a hypermarket and |
| This was built as a new neighbourhood - related | | | | 120 you're sure to find whatever you are looking for; it |
| territory, this was thought of as a way of helping the | | | | also includes a casino and soon to be opened opened |
| city after a crisis in its traditional industrial activities. In | | | | a Hotel Casino Bar Restaurant Theatre complex in a |
| mid 1980s the wheels of the project started to move | | | | new area of the mall. |
| when it joined the Channel Tunnel project thanks to | | | | |