To begin, we will meet at Place de la Treille, where we will discuss the origins of Lille: its name, its motte-and-bailey castle, and the legend behind its founding. We will take the opportunity to talk about the cathedral and its statue of the Virgin, which is venerated by the people of Lille and has survived the ages and the upheavals of time.
We will then discuss the rivalries between the Counts of Flanders and the Kings of France, passing by one of Lille's iconic landmarks, Avenue du Peuple-Belge. This period would eventually lead to the annexation of the city of Lille under Louis XIV, which we will observe through the city's architecture.
Finally, we will discuss the main events that ultimately made the people of Lille loyal to France, despite wars and sieges, up until the French Revolution.
We will end our tour of historic Lille in front of the Column of the Goddess, which commemorates the Siege of Lille in 1792, without forgetting to pass by the iconic Old Stock Exchange.