To begin, we'll meet at Place de la Treille, where we'll talk about Lille's origins, its name, its motte-and-bailey, and the legend behind its creation. We'll take the opportunity to talk about the cathedral and its statue of the Virgin Mary, venerated by the people of Lille, which has survived the ages and the tumults of time.
We'll then discuss the rivalries between the counts of Flanders and the kings of France, passing through one of Lille's iconic places, the Avenue du Peuple Belge. This period will eventually lead to the annexation of the city of Lille under Louis XIV, which we will observe through the city's architecture.
Finally, we'll cover the main events that made the people of Lille ultimately loyal to France, despite the wars and sieges, until the French Revolution.
We'll end our walk in historic Lille in front of the Column of the Goddess, which commemorates the siege of Lille in 1792, and we'll also pass by the iconic old stock exchange.