Accessible Tourism in Lille
Enjoy an Accessible Short Break in the French City of Lille
Lille is only one hour from Paris but it's a different world - smaller, friendlier, and much more accessible for travellers with disabilities.
Travel to Lille
You can take the Eurostar from London and arrive at Lille (Europe station) in one hour 20 minutes. From Paris there are fast, accessible TGV trains to Lille Europe from Paris Gare du Nord. Lille is only a short train ride from Brussels. Lille Europe station is fully accessible and there are always staff on hand to assist you. It is walking distance from Lille city centre.
The new Hotel Lille Europe near the Lille Europe railway station has four adapted rooms and a good restaurant. For other accessible hotels, look for branches of the IBIS chain. Be sure to state your needs clearly.
Accessible Public Transport in Lille
All stations along both of Lille's metro lines, and the whole tramway system, are fully accessible without assistance. They have self-service lifts and raised platforms sections at each end of the platform and you should have no trouble navigating the lines. Lille is small and compact so the metro should get you everywhere you need to know.
Most of the city centre is pedestrianised. There are cobbles in the Old Town (Vieille Ville) but surfaces are otherwise fairly flat and good. Signage is also effective.
Access Information in Lille
The tourist office in Place Rihour is ramped and accessible but does not have useful information for disabled travellers. You can buy a small map and get other general information about current events and festivals and there is a small shop in the office.
Lille Sights & Attractions
The city is small and compact and many attractions are scattered around the Place General du Gaulle. Look out for the Opera House and the huge 'Goddess' statue in the centre of the square. It's worth popping into the Vieille Bourse (Old Stock Exchange) to see its 17th-century red-brick courtyard as its generally filled with second-hand book stalls. The Vieille Bourse is ramped from Place du Théâtre.
In the Old Town you'll find the infamous cathedral Notre-Dame de la Treille, whose façade was only finished in 1999. The Palais des Beaux Arts is the second-largest arts museum in France after the Louvre in Paris. It is ramped from Boulevard de la Liberté and most exhibitions are accessible for wheelchair users.
You should also find time to visit the Maison Folies de Wazemmes in the Gambetta area. It was created as part of Lille's celebration of its 2004 status as European Capital of Culture, and features some interesting exhibitions and shows. The building is accessible by ramp and there are lifts, toilets and dedicated wheelchair spaces inside.
Lille Shopping
Shoppers can enjoy all eight floors of Europe's largest bookshop, Le Furet du Nord, as well as a huge branch of the FNAC store selling all manner of music, DVDs, books and technology. Rue de Béthune, branching off from the Place General du Gaulle, is filled with designer and brand-name shops, including the department store Galeries Lafayette. This is accessible and there is a disabled toilet on the top floor. There are also public accessible toilets in the rue des Tanneurs shopping centre (behind FNAC).
There are also many centres commerciaux (shopping malls) in Lille. The best is the new Euralille centre right next to Lille Europe station, great for a last-minute shopping blast before catching the train. Other quaint shops and delis are in the Old Town, which is rather difficult for shoppers with severe disabilities.
Restaurants and Cafés in Lille
If Lille is a city on a human scale, its cuisine is designed for superhuman appetites. Regional specialities not to miss are the carbonade flamande (small pieces of beef cooked in beer), waterzoi (poultry or fish in a creamy vegetable sauce) and potjevleesch (slices of meat in aspic). This is all washed down by beer and followed up with a dessert of 'Stinky Lille' cheese and the ubiquitous gauffres (waffles).
Many restaurants and shops might not appear accessible but don't be afraid to ask. Often, staff have a ramp hiding behind the counter or accessible toilets behind closed doors, and they'll always be willing to help. Because of the large number of visitors, many locals speak English.
One of the most famous restaurants for traditional Belgian mussels and frites in Lille is Aux Moules restaurant at no34 rue de Béthune, opposite Galeries Lafayette. For really high-class seafood, including oysters, head for the art-deco À L'Huitrière at 3 rue des Chats Bossus. If you want something sweet, try Patisserie Meert (27 rue Esquermoise). The traditional old tea room specialises in Belgian waffles and thick, gooey hot chocolate. All three are accessible and have large toilets.
If you visit the Gambetta area, the best restaurant around is L'Orée du Marché (47 rue du Marché), flat and spacious but with one step up to the toilets. If you just want a quick lunchtime snack or pre-dinner cocktail, stop off at café bar Le Club at 153 rue L. Gambetta – a temporary ramp is available to climb the step and there are large toilets.
