Was it Vauban who planned that the grounds of the former Château de Courtrai are part of Vieux-Lille? Today, we stand on Rue de Courtrai. It is part of Lille’s history. The street lies within the area of Vieux-Lille. Let’s explore its connection to this historic district.
Rue de Courtrai sits on land included in Lille’s expansion between 1619 and 1622. This enlargement encompassed the area between Avenue du Peuple Belge. It also included Rue du Pont-Neuf, Porte de Gand and Boulevard Carnot. This expansion incorporated the grounds of the former Château de Courtrai into Lille. Therefore, Rue de Courtrai is part of Vieux-Lille.
Vieux-Lille, or Old Lille, is known for its pre-19th-century buildings. Cobbled streets and canal traces add to its charm. Around 20,000 people call Vieux-Lille home.
Until World War I, Vieux-Lille was larger. It included the area bordered by Boulevard de la Liberté. It stretched south to Boulevard Louis XIV. The war damaged areas around Rue de Béthune. The railway station and Rue du Molinel also suffered. Rebuilding in the 1930s brought Art Deco and neo-regionalist styles.
By the 1960s and 70s, Vieux-Lille became a unique example of pre-industrial architecture. The working-class Saint-Sauveur district was gone. Vieux-Lille remained largely untouched by modernization.
In the 1980s, Vieux-Lille was restored. Pierre Mauroy led this effort. Once neglected and known for its bad reputation, the area transformed. Today, it is a dynamic commercial hub. Bars, restaurants and luxury boutiques thrive here. Property prices have risen. Gentrification has reshaped the population.
Lille’s origins trace back to the 11th century in Vieux-Lille. The area centers around the Notre-Dame de la Treille cathedral. It extends to Place aux Oignons and the former Basse Deûle. Now, it’s known as Avenue du Peuple-Belge. The forum was in the triangle between Rue Basse, Rue Esquermoise and Rue Grande-Chaussée. However, much of today’s Vieux-Lille isn’t the city’s oldest part.
The former faubourg de Weppes, near Sainte-Catherine church, joined Lille around 1370. It became the city’s fifth parish. This area lies between Rue Léonard-Danel and Rue d’Angleterre. It stretches to Rue des Trois-Mollettes and Rue de Weppes. It includes Rue Thiers and Rue de la Baignerie. It extends to Quai du Wault and Square du Ramponneau.
The area north of Rue du Pont-Neuf and Rue Négrier dates to the 1670s. Vauban decided on this expansion after Louis XIV annexed Lille. This part of Vieux-Lille features linear streets and regular plans. French-style buildings from the late 17th and 18th centuries line these streets. Many are townhouses inspired by Parisian designs.
The looser streets near the cathedral are among Lille’s oldest. These include Rue de la Clef and Rue de la Grande-Chaussée. They also encompass Rue des Chats-Bossus and Place aux Oignons. Rue Basse is also part of this historic area.
After medieval wooden houses disappeared, 17th and 18th-century buildings arose. Flemish Renaissance-style houses line the streets. These houses share proportions and rhythms. However, they differ in decorative details. Arcaded houses and classical houses also dot the area. Few later buildings exist. This preserves the town’s 18th-century appearance.
Vieux-Lille boasts numerous houses, mansions and buildings. They showcase over a thousand years of history. Rue de Courtrai is a piece of this rich tapestry. As you walk along Rue de Courtrai, remember its place within Vieux-Lille. It connects to the Château de Courtrai grounds and the city’s evolution.