Lille is the fourth largest city in France and is the capital of the Nord-Pas de Calais region. An important industrial center till the 70s and 80s, Lille turned to the service sector to diversify its economy. Today, it is an urban center with strong cultural and educational ties. Some of the finest universities in the country are in the region and the city has a high student population. As such, there is no shortage of places to stay in the center of Lille. Take your pick from 5-star hotels to inexpensive youth hostels. There are also many interesting places to discover such as La Vielle Bourse, Musee des Beaux-Arts and The Opera. La Rihour is full of restaurants and if you dont know where to sleep, go to the Office du Tourisme in the same area where helpful staff has a list of all hotels Lille has to offer and will give suggestions to you.