Place du Général-de-Gaulle

Square in Lille

CC BY-SA 2.0 / Visions of Domino

The main square of Lille, officially named Place du Général-de-Gaulle following World War II, is affectionately known by locals as the Grand Place, or simply “the Main Square.” Much like how New Yorkers still call the Avenue of the Americas “Sixth Avenue,” Lille’s residents stick with tradition. Regardless of the name used, this vibrant square remains the cultural and social heart of the city.

Historically, the area was known as the forum as far back as 1066, when it was designated as a market square. The land was drained, leveled, and paved, setting the stage—quite literally—for centuries of public life and commerce. By the 17th century, the construction of the Commodity Exchange (now the Old Stock Exchange) physically split the space into the Grand Place and the Petite Place, or Little Square.

Today, Place du Général-de-Gaulle—sometimes also referred to as Place de la Déesse—continues to serve as Lille’s central gathering point. It regularly hosts festivals, events, and open-air markets, including the city’s beloved annual book clearance fair. Around its edges stand historic buildings such as the Théâtre du Nord and the Vieille Bourse (Old Stock Exchange), while at the center stands the Column of the Goddess, commemorating Lille’s resistance during the 1792 siege. The square, paved in a checkerboard of pink and blue granite, is partially pedestrianized and easily accessible by Rihour metro station or via the nearby underground car park with 342 spaces.

The Place du Général-de-Gaulle appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Lille!

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