Lille

Capital of the Hauts-de-France région, Lille may be France's most underrated metropolis. Recent decades have seen the country's fourth-largest city (by greater urban area) transform from an industrial center into a glittering cultural and commercial hub.

The historical capital of Flanders, this attractive city in northern France remains to be the most significant urban center in the French Flanders area. The city's architecture and hearty cuisine reflect the Flemish influence, which it shares with neighboring Belgium in terms of cultural heritage. The Grand Place (Place du Général de Gaulle), a popular gathering spot for locals and a breathtaking exhibition of Flemish Baroque architecture that stuns tourists, is one of Lille's main attractions. The Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille, a museum of fine arts situated in a stunning 19th-century structure, is another must-see. The Musée du Louvre-Lens is worth the 40-minute train travel from Lille. Rotating exhibits of artwork on loan from the Louvre Museum in Paris are on show in this ultra-modern exhibition space.