Rue Gandhi

What happened to Rue Gandhi? Here in Lille, the name Rue Gandhi might intrigue you. It once existed, stretching from Rue de Gand towards La Madeleine. The Rue de Gand itself is a historic street. It begins at Place Louise-de-Bettignies and leads to the Porte de Gand, a historic gate. From there, it curves through the gardens before meeting Rue du Pont-Neuf. Originally part of the route from Lille to Menin, Rue de Gand played a significant role as the main road to the Courtrai Castle. It was initially called Rue de Saint-Vital, then Rue de la Magdeleine after the city’s expansion in 1617. The construction and inauguration of the Porte de la Magdeleine in 1625 influenced this name change. Just like the gate which was later renamed Porte de Gand, the street adopted its current name after the French Revolution. The street extended beyond the gate through a Spanish-era demi-lune, crossing four dormant bridges over the outer moats. This route continued as Rue de Gand until it reached the intersection of Rue des Bateliers and Rue du Pont-Neuf. Around 1950, this section of Lille’s fortifications was demolished. The old national road then became Rue Gandhi, extending all the way to La Madeleine. Now, Rue Gandhi is no more. As part of urban development, it’s being transformed into a green space. This green area will connect with the Winston Churchill green plain where the new courthouse stands. The transformation reflects the evolution of Lille’s urban landscape, where history intertwines with modern development.