EuraLille: The Revival of a Grimy City

Aug. 4, 2010 - PRLog -- Although it is a medium-sized city in the Nord-Pas de Calais, Lille is the fourth biggest city in France.  It is known for its credible city centre and its very active cultural life, as it was voted the joint European Capital of Culture in 2004.  

Euralille helped Lille get back on the map as it was once a place where you wouldn't think twice of going to but now it is one of the major cities in Europe with a lively atmosphere and can boast some of the best if not cultured villas in France.  

The city itself has a strong industrial background but this is after some difficult years it had. It was once known as a once-grimy industrial metropolis, its economy was based on declining technologies.  But  it has transformed thanks to the government, it is now a an exciting city of Europe. The vibrant economy of the million-strong city-region is symbolised by the brand new business centre of Euralille.

Euralille is the business district in Lille and the third one in France after La Defence in Paris and the Part – Dieu in Lyon. It is built right next to the new high speed train station of Lille where passengers come from the Eurostar. It also has the network of underground system (metro) in the world.  

This was built as a new neighbourhood- related territory, this was thought of as a way of helping the city after a crisis in its traditional industrial activities. In mid 1980s the wheels of the project started to move when it joined the Channel Tunnel project thanks to Margaret Thatcher and in 1987 the station (French railway) accepted a path for the future line of the TGV via Lille. Although the city could was financially bleeding dry around this time as it was unable to meet the costs of the project. This lead the city having to sell a few building rights to developers of large backed banks.

Euralille covers 110 acres of land and includes over 740,000 m2 of floor space which includes offices, businesses, shops, homes and appliances, and a major program of parks and public spaces.

Euralille is home to some amazing structures that such as the unique Tour de Lille that overlooks the Europe Railway station Lille, this tower of offices is the fourth largest building in the province with it being 120 feet high.  It has become a symbol of the revival of the city of Lille,  hence why the name was changed from the Credit Lyonnais Tower.  There is also the second largest largest building the Toure Lilleurope that is a mixed of concrete and structural steel which made it a real technical challenge to build.  If you are into shopping then maybe you would like the Euralille (mall), the inside is just as amazing to look at as the outside is! Composing of a hypermarket and 120 you're sure to find whatever you are looking for; it also includes a casino and soon to be opened opened a Hotel Casino Bar Restaurant Theatre complex in a new area of the mall.






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