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Lille is the capital of the region Nord department and of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region. According to the legend, Lille would have been founded in 640, thanks to Lyderic's victory over the crual tyrant, Phinaert. The two giants are represented in all the festivities of the city. Lille city was born in the 11^th Century but displays architecture fit for the 21^st Century, alongside a rich historical heritage.

The name of "Lille" appeared in History for the first time in 1066. It found its origin from the latin word "insula" (island). When it was founded, Lille rose out from the swamps and it was surrounded and crossed by many branches of the river " la Deûle".

Many battles were fought over its possession, as various kings of France always wanted it. In 1214, Philippe Auguste defeated the Count of Flanders and the German emperor Otto IV at Bouvines. In the church of Bouvines, 21 stained glass windows recount the battle.

As a result of the alliance of Dijon and Brussels, it remained part of the lands of Bourgogne for over a century: it became the administrative and financial capital of Phille le Bon, Duke of Burgundy and the most powerful king of France. The last duke of Burgundy, Charles le Tιmιraire, died in 1477. His daughter Marie wed Maximilien of Austria, and Lille was part of the dowry given to the Habsburgs.

Under Charles Quint and Phillipe IV, Lille became part of the Spanish Netherlands. This golden age for the city is symbolised in the splendid, Baroque Vieille Bourse.

In 1667, Louis the XIV^th, conquered the town, binding it to his kingdom for ever, as it is still shown by the Citadel set up by Vauban.

Lille's Chamber of Commerce dates from the 18^th century. It has a commission for regional economic development, a branch of the Bank of France, and has an annual international commercial fair (begun 1925).

During the French Revolution, the town suffered from many destructions. The people's opposition to the Austrian invasion and the Siege of Lille in 1792 were the high peaks of the revolutionary period. Lille was damaged and also occupied by the Germans during World Wars I and II.

The world's first entirely automatic underground train system was opened here in 1982. The Eurostar train stops here, at the new Eurolille station. Industries include textiles, chemicals, engineering, and distilling. Population (1990) 178,300, metropolitan area 936,000.

Lille was the birthplace of the soldier and colonial administrator Louis Faidherbe (1818); the composer Edouard Lalo (1823); and Charles de Gaulle (1890), president of France 1958–69.