Rijsel, the elegance of history
Categories : Events, Lille, published on : 2/18/26
A name that spans the centuries
Some cities have multiple histories.
Lille, which the Flemish still call Rijsel, is a perfect example.
Originally, the city stood on an island bordered by the waters of the Deûle River. Its name already evokes “the island.” In Flemish, this geographical singularity becomes Rijsel. More than a translation, it is a memory. That of a merchant city turned toward Flanders and the great European roads.
An identity shaped by Europe
Burgundian, Spanish, then French, Lille has lived through the centuries without ever losing its soul. Its Flemish-style facades, its noble squares, and its rich heritage tell this story.
Today, the name Rijsel evokes this openness to Belgium and the Netherlands. It conjures up a city at the crossroads of cultures, elegant, proud of its roots and contemporary.
The experience of a stay in the heart of history
Staying at the Carlton Hotel in Lille, opposite the Opera House and a stone's throw from the Grand'Place, means living this history.
Between tradition and refinement, every detail reflects the soul of the city: warm, distinguished, authentic.
In Lille or Rijsel, the past never fades away. It enhances the present.
