STADE PIERRE MAUROY, LILLE
How to get there:
Lille is only just over an hour train journey from Paris so that’s probably your best bet. Once
you’re in Lille though, just hop onto the Metro Line 1 to Cité Scientifique and it’s a 10-
minute walk from there.
Where the rugby’s happening:
Having been built in 2012, it’s another quite recent stadium and has a capacity of 50 000. It
has a retractable roof even though you’d hope the sunshine would be out by the time it
comes around.
Where to get some beers:
The best area to grab some beers, your best bet is probably along the Rue des Postes. A long
stretch full of different types of bars, La Boulangerie Bar is a lovely little. Former bakery that
has been transformed into a busy spot for some jazzy music.
What to visit whilst I’m there:
Lille was once upon a time a slightly miserable town in the Nord Pas-de-Calais, an area often
being represented as a dour area. But in the last decade it’s had a real makeover and has
become one of the most attractive places in France. If you want something to visit, the
Palais des Beaux-Arts is one of the most beautiful fine arts museums in France with artists
such as Goya and Rodin.
