Lille Before and During the War

by Pneu Michelin

The Deule is an important river about 40 miles long, which traverses the whole of the coalfields of Northern France, and helps to carry the enormous traffic connected with the metallurgical, cotton, woollen and sugar industries of that region.

THE PALAIS DE JUSTICE AND THE PONT-NEUF

Follow the Deule Quay to the left, to the steps of the Pont Neuf. (If motoring or driving, the tourist will have to go via the Place du Concert, Rue St. André, then taking on the right the Rue du Pont Neuf.) The latter crosses the Deule by the Grand Pont or Pont Neuf, formerly called the Pont Royal. Built in 1701 from plans by the architect Vollant, this bridge connects up the two parallel roads which run alongside the canal. Originally it was composed of six arches, two of which spanned the river, the other four passing over the low-level roads on either bank.

To allow the trams to pass, the two arches on the quay where the colonnade of the Palais de Justice stands have been replaced in recent times by an unartistic platform resting on iron pillars, which has spoilt the appearance of the bridge.

Steps connect the bridge with the quays.

ST. MAGDALENE'S CHURCH.

After crossing the bridge, the tourist arrives in front of the Church of St. Magdalene (1675), a vast round edifice surrounded by chapels and surmounted by a cupola. It contains several interesting paintings: on the High Altar, the Resurrection of Lazarus, by Jacques Van Oost; under the dome, The Four Doctors of the Latin Church, by the same painter; in the Chapel of Our Lady of Help, The Adoration of the Shepherds, by Rubens; in the Chapel of the St. Sacrement, Christ crucified, by Van Dyck: at the entrance to the choir, The Woman of Samaria and the Canaanitish Woman, by Arnould de Vuez.

Follow the Rue de Thionville, which begins opposite St. Magdalene's Church, then turn to the left into the Place de Gand, at the end of which is the Gand Gate. On the right take the Rue de Courtrai which leads to the Place aux Bluets. At the lower end of this square, turn to the left into the Rue des Urbanistes, then take the first street on the right, the Rue des Canonniers, which skirts the Hôtel des Canonniers. The latter, formerly an Urbanist Convent, was given by Napoléon in 1804 to the "Sedentary Gunners Corps" of Lille. It contains town records and a small museum of local interest.