To begin, we will meet at Place de la Treille, where we will talk about the origins of Lille, its name, its motte-and-bailey, and the legend behind its creation. We will take the opportunity to talk about the cathedral and its statue of the Virgin, venerated figure of the people of Lille, which has survived the ages and the tumult 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, the Avenue du Peuple Belge. This period will ultimately lead to the annexation of the city of Lille under Louis XIV, which we will observe through the city's architecture.
Finally, we will cover the main events that ultimately made the people of Lille loyal to France, despite the wars and sieges, until the French Revolution.
We will end our walk through 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.