Darling Lille

Vintage storefront in Lille, France

Located in the far north of France near the Belgian border, the city of Lille feels a little more Flemish than French. The architecture is different here, with more brick, like you’d see in its northern neighbor. And as in Belgium, both French and a version of Dutch are spoken here. While Lille might not be on your list of must-see French cities, it’s a great place to spend an hour or two stretching your legs as you make your way by high-speed train between London, Brussels and Paris. Once here, you might just be charmed into making a return visit.