Presuming that you have arrived by train, follow the Rue Faidherbe down towards the Vieille Bourse. Formerly Lille’s stock exchange, but now a book and poster market, this is your chance to explore some French literature!
As you leave the market through the archway, you will be greeted by the Grand Place. Your eyes will automatically head up to the towering monument in the centre of the square. This really is the heart of Lille.
However, at this point I started to think - what should you do next? Almost every idea that popped into my head, was food related.
Rule #1 of the city with the French passion for gastronomie and the Belgian passion for (very) strong beer: don’t leave hungry.
For a quick fix of French/ Flemish fusion, head to la Friterie Meunier. You buy frites (fries) by the cone, with the biggest being 1kg. As well as the popular Belgian fries, you can taste the also infamous (but maybe not for the same reasons) fricadelle. Ask any French person what a fricadelle is and they cannot tell you - a mystery definitely not for the vegetarian.
If you have more time for a traditional taste of Lille, head to the Old Town. Au Vieux de la Vieille is one of the cosiest and most traditional restaurants of Lille. The menu features the unique regional dish - the Welsh. This consists of bread cooked in beer with generous amounts of cheddar cheese, ham and topped off with a fried egg. This, of course, is served with fries.
As the cherry on the top of your very unhealthy but extremely delicious Lillois cake, you can’t leave without having sampled the Belgian beer on offer. Cafe Delirium offers hundreds of unique beers, ranging from 4% to 12%, so checking the menu before ordering really is key!
After only 24 hours, the city of Lille may have your heart but it will most definitely have your tastebuds!
Feature Image Credit: Wikimedia.com