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Kortriijk and Lille

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Kortriijk

Cortoriacum, Cortrycke, Cortryck, Kortrijk and Courtrai, dear children have many names. Kortrijk is a Belgian city and the largest city in southern West Flanders. Kortrijk is considered the capital of this district, but the broad municipality also includes villages such as Aalbeke, Bellegem, Bissegem, Heule, Kooigem, Marke and Rollegem. The city borders France and is therefore part of the metropolitan area Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai which can be used for French cities.

In Kortrijk there are several hospitals, colleges, and a university. The river Lys, which is 202 kilometres long, flows through the city and is an important route for being able to transport goods between cities in Belgium.

When you are in this main square you can also see the belfry. This is a medieval bell tower that was built around the year 1307. From the beginning, the bell tower was connected to a cloth hall, but these buildings needed to be expanded and therefore the business was moved to another part of Kortrijk and these buildings were demolished. The bell tower, on the other hand, could remain and in history it has been used to inform citizens about time, fire, working hours and social, political and religious events. During the 16th century, a carillon was installed that is still used to play songs on Sundays, holidays, and market days. In 1994, a new carillon was installed and during the summer months, carillon concerts are arranged. Belfry has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. The bell tower has become an important symbol of Kortrijk and it is free to join for anyone who wants to visit this medieval heritage.

You can also visit the Medieval City Hall located on the main square Grote Markt. During its history, the town hall has been subjected to destruction and looting several times. The current town hall was built in 1520 with Gothic style and Renaissance elements. In 1526, statues of the Count of Flanders were placed in front of the building. In 1807, during the French occupation, these statues were taken down. But during the 20th century, the town hall was renovated to the same style as it had been during the 16th century. In the town hall you will find the beautiful Aldermen´s Hall and Council Chamber with sculpted chimneys from the 17th century. They are decorated with stained glass, murals, and topographic maps. There is also a historic parliamentary chamber that was used as a court until 1787. Since a few years ago, it can be used as a wedding room or a reception hall. In the house there are beautiful tile stone, murals, and stained-glass windows. And not far from the main square you can find Saint-Martin church which is from the 13th century, but the church could be rebuilt after a fire in the 15th century. Today it houses a 48-bell tower, and its 83-meter-high tower makes the church the tallest building in Kortrijk.

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The Broel Towers that have a bridge between them which stretches across the river Lys is the most identity medieval architecture. Although the towers are very similar, they were not built at the same time. The south tower was built in 1385 to control the traffic on the river and the north tower was built in 1415 as an armour. Both towers and its bridge belonged to the medieval city wall around the castle of the Count of Flanders. The bridge between the toner was destroyed during both world wars. Broel Towers is a listed monument and an important landmark for Kortrijk.

At different times of the year, the city also hosts several different cultural events, such as the eleventh of July when they celebrate the Flemish Community Day. This is an annual day of remembrance for the Battle of the Golden Spurs. Golden River City Jazz Festival is an annual music festival that focuses on jazz and is held the first weekend in September. On weekends in August, summer carnivals are organized. At the beginning of the school year, the city arranges a student welcome concert, which is primarily a rock concert to celebrate the start of the new school year at Kortrijk University and Kortrijk Colleges.

If you want to try some of Kortrijk's food specialties, Kalletaart, Peperbollen, biscuits and chocolate are recommended. If you are instead hungry for beer, you will find well-known breweries such as Picobrouwerij Alvinne in Heule and Bockor in Bellegem.

The shopping in Kortrijk consists of several different indoor shopping centres such as Ring Shopping, Kortrijk Noord, Bouwcentrum Pottelberg and K in Kortrijk. K is in the city centre and connects to the city's largest shopping street. The shopping centre contains up to 90 stores such as Mediamarkt, H&M and Zara, but of course you can find much more in clothes, household utensils and food in this shopping centre.

In Kortrijk there is a central station that has many direct connections to other cities in Belgium as well as Brussels Airport. In thirty minutes, you can also take the train to Lille in France.

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In Kortrijk you can also visit museums such as Kortrijk 1302: seven centuries in one day which is a historical museum about the famous Battle of the Golden Spurs. It is also interesting to visit the National Flax Museum, which deals with how linen production has affected Kortrijk's economy. Besides, there are several different cultural centres such as theatres and cinemas. The city theatre is a neo-renaissance architectural theatre known for its beautiful glass roof.

Student life in Kortrijk

Favourite restaurant in Kortrijk

Dolce Vita
Maddox
Café 56
Sweet lime
Au Casino

Best place to get fries in Kortrijk

Bossuwe
Bellegems Frietjuisje
Wafelatelier
De blauwe Frituur
Frederic’s
De Dingen

Favourite bar

Den Chips
Café 56
Geverfde Vogel
t’ Kanon
La Bodeguita del medio

Secret hangouts in Kortrijk

Leierboorden
De roentuin
Buda eiland
De striate
Parc next to blauwe poort
Boekenwinkel met café
Café korba
Bar tour

Café des arts
Provincial natuurcentrum
Sinksenfeesten

De gavers
Bar des amis
A long walk near the leie
Pottelberg
Take the bus as close as possible and walk until the Meulemeesters Kapel. It's a spot where I went often with some friends (by car) to chill, it was like our spot but I'd like to share it now. Especially nice by sunset.
Bar cyclette
do some fun activity like go swimming or bowling and after that catch a drink in a bar
Movie theater Kinepolis or Budascoop

Lille

In Lille, one of the most visited place is the Citadel of Lille. It is a citadel built between 1667 and 1670 with the aim of protecting the city. The fortress is pentagonal and resembles a star from above. The building has high walls and is in a swamp area because water and mud became a natural protection against the enemy. Today, a small canal flows around the citadel and a small, paved street that makes it easy for visitors to take a walk around this fortress. The citadel is called the "Queen of the Citadel" and it is known for its size, architecture, and state of preservation. The citadel is still active and is used as a military base and therefore it is not open to the public to visit. However, it is possible to book guided tours organized by Lille's tourist office. But the place is still worth a visit even though you cannot enter the citadel. The area consists of green nature and animals that make this a peaceful place for those who want to take a break from city life. In the same area you can also visit an amusement park and Lille's zoo called Zoo de Lille. This is a perfect area for quiet moments and fun activities.

If you want to visit a church in Lille, we can recommend Lille Cathedral which is a Roman Catholic church in Gothic revival architecture. The church began to be built in 1854 to honour the Virgin Mary and the work of building the church was completed in 1999. Lille Cathedral is considered a national monument.For those who do not get enough of quiet and peaceful places, there are also three botanical gardens in Lille that are worth visiting. These are the Jardin botanique de la Faculté de Pharmacie, Jardin botanique Nicolas Boulay and Jardin des Plantes de Lille.

There are also various museums that you can visit during your stay in Lille. The Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille is a museum dedicated to art, modern art and antiques. It is one of the largest art museums in France. The Musee d’Histoire Naturelle de Lille is a natural history museum that is also an impressive place to visit. This museum is free to visit.

If you visit Lille in early September, you will be greeted by the largest flea market in Europe. This is organized by Lille and this event is called The Lille Braderie. This flea market started in the 12th century and between two and three million visitors participate in this event. About 10,000 local shops, residents and traders set up stalls on the street that stretches over 100 km in the city.

If you visit the city and are looking for shopping, you can either visit Euralille, where many popular shops such as H&M, Zara, and Stradivarius and many more are gathered. Otherwise, you will find many other exciting and popular shops in the city centre. If you want to take a coffee break, we can recommend Juste un p’tit bout which is in an alley near the train station. It is a small and personal café serving homemade pastries. For those who are hungry for something to drink and a piece of food in modern French style, we can recommend Les 3 Bandits de Napoli and Crêperie Beaurepaire. These restaurants are perfect in the summer when you can enjoy their magical outdoor seating. La Crêperie de la Vieille Bourse is another restaurant that serves fantastic crepes.

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Lille is a city in northern France. The municipality has a population of 231,491, but the Lille area is also part of a metropolitan area, making it the fourth largest metropolitan area in France after Paris, Lyon, and Marseille. The metropolitan area also includes Kortrijk. Lille has an eventful history that stretches from the Middle Ages to the French Revolution. Throughout history, the area belonged to France, the Holy Roman Empire in Germany, and the Spanish Netherlands before it finally came to belong to France. During the two world wars, the area was occupied and severely damaged by destruction. For those who are interested in the local history of Lille, we recommend visiting the Hospice Comtesse Museum, which is an art and history museum. You will find the museum in the heart of old Lille.

Localisation-of-the-Eurometropolis-Lille

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