← All articles · France · 30 November 2012

Lille

Lille from the rooftops in late November 2012: the old town skyline, three gilded goddesses, and the Marche de Noel pouring vin chaud below us.

On the last day of November 2012 we got above Lille, and the city made its case from the rooftops: slate, red brick, gold trim and a Christmas market warming up below.

View over the rooftops of Lille old town in low winter sun, with the ornate clock belfry of the Chambre de Commerce on the right — Vieux Lille from above, November 2012. The belfry of the Chambre de Commerce runs the skyline.

Inga in a pink knitted hat and Dileep in glasses posing high above the rooftops of Lille, low sun flaring behind them — Wrapped up for the last day of November, half of Lille behind us.

Three gilded female statues on a Lille rooftop catching the evening sun, one holding a sailing ship, city buildings soft behind — Up here you meet the neighbours: three gilded goddesses catching the last of the light, one with a ship under her arm.

Down at the Marché de Noël

Below us, rows of white-roofed chalets had taken over the square, strung together with lights. So we went down and joined the queue like sensible people.

Aerial view of the Lille Christmas market, rows of wooden chalets with white roofs and strings of lights filling a square between buildings — The Marché de Noël from above: chalets, garlands of lights and a slow tide of winter coats.

Inga in a pink knitted hat and fur coat at the entrance of the Lille Christmas market, welcome signs and copper pots of vin chaud behind — At the gates: welcome in three languages overhead, vin chaud steaming in copper pots on the left.

An afternoon was never going to be enough. Lille sells itself from the roof and closes the deal at the mulled wine stand. More from this corner of the map: Calais.