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From Grand’Place to Place Général de Gaulle: Lille’s Enduring Spirit of Commerce

February 28, 2025

From Grand’Place to Place Général de Gaulle: Lille’s Enduring Spirit of Commerce

In the past, Place Général de Gaulle was called Grand’Place. It originated in the Middle Ages, mainly for trade – just like when I was in Lille. Surely now or later it will be the same. Covid did not make people stop trading. Especially after the Lille authorities allowed reopening, similar to Ho Chi Minh City.

In the square, there is also the Vieille Bourse – the old Stock Exchange. (You shouldn’t confuse the word “bourse” with a stock exchange). Just by looking, one can immediately tell that this place is related to trade because on the bell tower of the Vieille Bourse is a statue of Mercury, the god of merchants. But in the 1910s, a new Chamber of Commerce – Nouvelle Bourse – was built across the street.

The old Chamber of Commerce is one of the most prestigious monuments in the city, regarded as a witness to Lille’s vibrant economic era in previous centuries. Vieille Bourse was built in 1653 and has been classified as a historical monument since 1921.

The quadrilateral building consists of 24 identical mansions, with a spacious courtyard in the center; it even has a bell tower. When I was in Lille, that courtyard looked like the skylight of some old houses in Hoi An, reserved for used book sellers and flower vendors. that courtyard looks like the skylight of some old houses in Hoi An, reserved for used book sellers and flower vendors. And on the inner walls of the mansions, one can see statues of French scholars with notes underneath (otherwise, no one would know who is who).

You can also see people playing chess, strolling; even tourists coming and going or flipping through old books, chatting with the bookseller. The courtyard is like a gentle note, floating away from the time and space of a bustling place.

Directly across from Vieille Bourse is the Grand Garde building, constructed in 1717. This is considered a perfect example of classical architecture. One can recognize on the protruding part of the two pedestals extending beyond the eaves of the house, a sun symbolizing King Louis XIV of France, and on the two ends of the pedestals, one side bears the coat of arms of France and the other, that of Lille.

People walking across a sunny tramway intersection in a historic European city.
Lille’s city center is a captivating blend of historic charm and modern vibrancy, where grand Flemish architecture, bustling squares, and lively cafés reflect the city’s rich trading heritage and dynamic spirit.

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