This ‘Runseeing’ tour of Lille is a great way to explore the city’s highlights on a run. Our mapped route covers many of the main sites of the city center (Lille-Centre) and the historic old city (Vieux-Lille), and includes the Botanic Gardens and Parc Henri Matisse. The full tour is nearly 13 km, but there are options for longer or shorter.
Parc Henri Matisse. Creative Commons: Babsy
Start in the center of Lille at the landmark Porte de Paris, and head south through a park, bearing RIGHT on Rue Fontenoy, to access the Botanical Garden. Enjoy a 1.5 km loop around the gardens (free entrance), then head back north, using Rue Doual. Run back through the Port de Paris, passing City Hall, heading north on R. Pierre Mauroy, to the Veille Bourse – a spectacular building housing the old stock exchange. Turn RIGHT, heading east on Rue Roubaix, to do a loop of the wide open paths of Parc Henri Matisse. Exit the park on a path, and run north for 1 km through a small linear park paralleling Ave. Peuple Belge, into the Old City. Turn LEFT on Rue St. Andre, which leads to the Plaine de la Poterne park, and paths that head west to the Citadelle. Skirt the Citadelle along the east side canal path for 2 km, then return to the start along Rue de la Barre.
Shorter Option: Save ~5 km by eliminating the initial loop down to the Botanical Garden.
This ‘Runseeing’ tour of Lille is a great way to explore the city’s highlights on a run. Our mapped route covers many of the main sites of the city center (Lille-Centre) and the historic old city (Vieux-Lille), and includes the Botanic Gardens and Parc Henri Matisse. The full tour is nearly 13 km, but there are options for longer or shorter.
Parc Henri Matisse. Creative Commons: Babsy
Start in the center of Lille at the landmark Porte de Paris, and head south through a park, bearing RIGHT on Rue Fontenoy, to access the Botanical Garden. Enjoy a 1.5 km loop around the gardens (free entrance), then head back north, using Rue Doual. Run back through the Port de Paris, passing City Hall, heading north on R. Pierre Mauroy, to the Veille Bourse – a spectacular building housing the old stock exchange. Turn RIGHT, heading east on Rue Roubaix, to do a loop of the wide open paths of Parc Henri Matisse. Exit the park on a path, and run north for 1 km through a small linear park paralleling Ave. Peuple Belge, into the Old City. Turn LEFT on Rue St. Andre, which leads to the Plaine de la Poterne park, and paths that head west to the Citadelle. Skirt the Citadelle along the east side canal path for 2 km, then return to the start along Rue de la Barre.
Shorter Option: Save ~5 km by eliminating the initial loop down to the Botanical Garden.
An iconic and memorable run. Enjoy a loop around the concentric circle paths of a fortified city wall built between 1667 and 1670. Now a park, the inner, middle, and outer loop paths make for a ~10k, with options for more. Mainly open terrain, with great views.
Lovely paths along the Deûle river and canals in central Lille. Our 8.5 km loop showcases the paths south of the Citadelle around the Quai de l'Ouest, with great views of the water and Vieux Lille. Can extend for 2.5 km north of the Citadelle to the D48.
A pleasant run along the Deûle River headed north from Lille. A gravel path along the east side of the river goes for many, many km, as far as the Belgian border and beyond. We've mapped up to 10.2 km. Some nice water views, and an increasingly pastoral landscape.
A terrific route a few km east of Lille, combining the city's largest park, path to a 17th century Château, and the fields and running track at the Stadium Lille Métropole complex.
Roubaix is part of the greater Lille area and has some nice running routes. Best bets fir running are the linear Parc Barbieux, paths along the Quai that continue for many km east along the Canal de l‘Espierres, and long-distance paths along the Leie River.
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