Lille (Things to do - Places to Visit) - LILLE Top Tourist Placesbr City in Francebr Lille is the capital of the Hauts-de-France region in northern France, near the border with Belgium. br br A cultural hub and bustling university city today, it was once an important merchant center of French Flanders, and many Flemish influences remain. The historic center, Vieux Lille, is characterized by 17th-century brick townhouses, cobbled pedestrian streets and the large central square, Grand Place.