Some useful information that could help you.
An estimated 70,000 Irish fans are expected to travel to Euro 2016 and while we hope that everyone has a great time, a little bit of extra information could be very helpful.
Lille
When you’re here, you’ll have no idea whether or not you’re in France, Belgium or the Netherlands because this city is a mix of them all. Beer halls, brick houses and beautiful belfries are all on offer but there’s so much more to the ’04 European City of Culture.
Getting to the stadium
The Stade-Pierre Mauroy is located approximately 6km south of Lille centre but it can be accessed pretty easily.
Two stations on Metro line 1, 4 Cantons and Cité Scientifique, are both within a short walking distance of the stadium.
Metroline 1 can be accessed from Lille city centre or the main train station in the city, Gare Lille Flanders.
Alternatively, you can also use Metroline 2 and get off at Les Prés station, from where you can get a shuttle to the stadium.
Useful links
What have UEFA got planned in the city?
The official Euro 2016 fan zone is located beside the Lille Europe and Lille Flandres railway stations and is easily reached via public transport.
Check out the UEFA host city guide to Lille here.
Nightlife
Rue Masséna and the areas around it have plenty of bars to suit all tastes, while Rue Solférino, where the Irish pub L’Irlandais can be found, is also worth checking out.
Irish pubs
Unsurprisingly, there’s ample choice when it comes to Irish pubs in the city.
Tír na nÓg and L’Irlandais are around the corner from each other (7-8 minute walk) a little south of the city centre, while you’ll no doubt some Irish fans on Irish Corner La Madeleine on Avenue de Kaarst.
Popular areas to see
The Old Quarter, La Vieux Lille: Cobblestone streets, loads of nice restaurants and Cathédrale Notre Dame de la Treille, it’s perfect for a nice quiet stroll, maybe on a night when Ireland aren’t playing.
Place du Général-de-Gaulle: The main square and location for the La Grande Déesse fountain and statue, it will be a hive of activity throughout the tournament.
Gare de Lille Europe: If art is your thing, then one of the city’s main train stations is worth a look, even if you don’t need to use it to get out and about.
Some of the walls at the station are covered in fantastic murals, making it look slightly more decadent than Connolly Station at home.
Other things to do
Lille is home to a Museum of Natural History and Museum of Modern, Contemporary and Outsider Art, but the city also has a storied military history.
Lille was subject to German bombardment in World War I and occupied by the Nazis in World War II and it’s also worth checking out the Citadel of Lille, a star-shaped fortification and self-contained town that’s been there since the 17th century.
Leaving Lille for Paris
If you’re driving, it’s a trek of about two and a half hours from the north-central town that borders Belgium to the French capital that’s slightly south of it, so you’d want to give yourself a bit of time to plan ahead.
If you’re returning home to Ireland via Paris then you’ll be happy to know that the average journey time on the train is just 1h13m and that there are about 18 trains that leave regularly, the first one leaving at 5:37am.
COYBIG!
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