The Best French City To Live In Has Just Been Revealed And It's Not Paris!

A new study has revealed that Lille is the best city to live in France, and these are some of the reasons why nobody is really surprised by the results.

Why Lille?

In a new ‘lifestyle barometer’ published by Jobijoba, one of the French leaders in job searching, and meilleurtaux. com, specialist in the online brokerage market, a mix of data from France’s main cities was cross-referenced using indicators of the labour market, median wages, real estate prices and interest rates. Bingo! Lille, the capital of the north, came up as the number one city to live in France.

In truth, it is nothing new to the younger generations of Lille denizens, they had already figured it out on their own. Why pay a fortune for a postage-stamp sized flat in the capital when you have a great lifestyle in one of Lille’s trendier neighbourhoods, with access to culture, great spots to eat, shop and go out, beautiful green spaces and numerous cafés? Plus, you can jump on the Eurostar or the TGV and be in a European hub in a couple of hours.

The north is known for its laid-back and friendly attitude, and Lille, as its capital, is no exception to the legendary Ch’ti welcome. The region has mining and industrial roots, and has taken a grounded, no-nonsense approach to reinventing its future. Lille has emerged as a commercial and cultural capital to be reckoned with, while at the same time retaining its tolerance and sense of humour that earned it first place as France’s friendliest city, according to the tongue-in-cheek ranking of travel site Topito.

Human scale

Walking around Lille’s attractive old town is a surprise to the first-time visitor, because of the richness of its Flemish architecture, but also because of how simple it is to find your bearings. Everything seems to be within easy walking distance or a short metro ride, including renowned art museums, world-class shopping, and myriad dining options. As a university town, Lille has a vibrant student life and night scene, and business and entertainment spots respond to a growing demand for new and fresh spots to live, work, meet, shop, and socialise.

Living culture

A mix of old and new keeps renewing the cultural offering in the city. Lille is home to venerable institutions such as the Palais des Beaux-Arts museum with France’s second largest art collection after the Louvre, and it has made the most of its designation in 2004 as European Capital of Culture. The city enjoys a healthy contemporary art scene with regular events, exhibitions, performances and festivals.

The business district

Strategically placed as a commercial hub, at the centre of the triangle formed by London, Paris and Brussels, Lille is home to retail megachains and is increasingly attracting new investment. The Euralille 3000 project proposes to further expand the business district, already the third most important in France, with a focus on developing business and transport infrastructure and also nightlife, shopping, culture and sports –another example of Lille’s approach to a well-rounded urban lifestyle.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

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