We had great time during our trip accross Europe and a great new year party with our friends and family in Lille, France. Lille is European Capital of Culture in 2004. I'd like to encourage you to visit Lille since 2004 is the perfect time to be there.

Lille is at the geographic and cultural crossroads of northwestern Europe. It is the capital of the northernmost region in France, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, and within two hours of Paris, Bruxelles and London. Lille has been a meltingpot of influences from surrounding countries, and continues to shift and incorporate customs of new settlers from Africa, the Middle East, the Far East, and other European countries.

Not to be missed is the second largest museum in Europe after the Louvre in Paris - the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lille which houses a phenomenal collection of masters from Rubens to Goya to Picasso. Included within the Musée's collections are Ruben's Descent from the Cross, Goya's Young and Old Women, and Delacroix's Medea, to name just a few of the impressive collection of masterworks.

Lille will enliven the city's streets with extraordinary art, street performances, live music and dance. You can see Lille transformed by futuristic light displays, listen to first strains of the international accordian festival, and see masterworks of the region's most famous painters. And much much more ...

It will be a celebration you don't want to miss!

www.lille2004.com (English or French)

www.lilletourism.com (English or French)
www.mairie-Lille.fr (French)