Lille Before and During the War

by Pneu Michelin

IN MEMORY
OF THE MICHELIN EMPLOYEES
AND WORKMEN WHO DIED GLORIOUSLY
FOR THEIR COUNTRY

LILLE
BEFORE AND DURING THE WAR

Published by
MICHELIN & Cie
Clermont-Ferrand, France.

Copyright by Michelin & Cie 1919

All rights of translation, adaptation or reproduction (in part or whole), reserved in all countries.

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LILLE

ORIGIN AND CHIEF HISTORICAL EVENTS

The marvellous tales of "Liliane" and the forest rangers Phinœrt and Lyderic, which take Lille back to the days of Julius Cæsar, are mythical. The first mention of Lille in history dates back to the 11th century, when the town was divided into the "castrum" or entrenched camp of the Counts of Flanders (where Baudoin V. erected the Basilica and Forum in about 1050), and the "forum" (to-day the Grand' Place), where the church of St. Martin already existed.