Life in Lille
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TOURIST OFFICE OF LILLE:
Place Rihour- 59000 Lille
Tel: +33 359 57 94 00 from abroad
Tel 0891 56 2004 from France
www.lilletourism.com
email: info@lilletourism.com
Opening hours: Mon - Sat from 9.30 am to 6.30 pm. Sundays and holidays from 10am to 12am and 2pm to 5pm | In 2004, as Europe's Capital of Culture, Lille hosted more than 2000 events.
Its nine million visitors relished in a real cultural feast at the European crossroad, just 38 minutes from Brussels, 1 hour from Paris and 1h 40 from London. Today, you can enjoy the numerous concerts, visit the different museums: Palais des Beaux-Arts (the biggest fine arts museum in France after the Louvre), Charles de Gaulle’s House (Lille is his birthplace), the Museum Hospice Comtesse…
Lille really deserves its title of City of Heritage and Art. Besides its colourful Flemish architecture and its narrow ornamented facades (like the old textile exchange ’La Vieille Bourse’), Lille has a rich and varied heritage. French classical style houses line the imposing "grands boulevards" and form a contrast with the "Maisons Folie" - former factories (textile, brewery) that are experiencing a new start as cultural and meeting centres. Markets and regional food and drink specialities will also represent a delicious part of your stay.
| PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION There are many forms of public transportation here in Lille – bus, subway (called ‘metro’) and tramway. The company which deals with transport for the city of Lille is TRANSPOLE. TRANSPOLE – www.transpole.fr |  BUS
There are over 60 lines serving the 87 communities in the urban region. This network of about 900 kms provides easy connections with the metro, tramway and national rail lines.
To come to the campus:
Line 12: Stop at "Universite Catholique de Lille"
La Citadine: Stop at "Rue du Port"
Line 72: Stop at "Universite Catholique de Lille" and "Boulevard Vauban" | | SUBWAY The Lille metro was the first fully automatic driverless underground train in the world. Two metro lines cover the urban region and allow easy transfer to the bus, tramway and national train lines. Depending on the time of day, metro trains run every 1 to 6 minutes. The lines normally close at 1am and then start again at around 5am to 6am. One subway ticket costs 1.40 €, or you can buy a book of ten tickets which costs 11 €. These tickets can be used on all types of transportation - bus, subway and tramway. The logo for the subway is a large red 'M', and it is possible to buy tickets from automatic vending machines in every station.
To come to the campus:
Line 1: stop at "Gambetta"
Line 2: stop at "Port de Lille" or "Cormontaigne" | BICYCLE Lille has developed a widespread system of bike rentals called V'Lille. There are 6 bike rentals points on the campus:
- Junction of Rue du Port and Boulevard Vauban
- Junction of Rue du Port and Rue Nationale
- Place du Marechal Leclercq
- Rue de Toul
- Place Catinat
- Junction of Boulevard Vauban and Rue Solferino
More information on: www.vlille.fr
| TRAMWAY Two lines with 36 stations totalling 26 kilometres, run from downtown Lille to the adjacent towns of Roubaix and Tourcoing. | | TAXI - Gare Taxi - Tel. 03 20 06 64 00
- Taxis Rihour - Tel. 03 20 55 20 56
| | Car rentals: A system of car rental is also available on campus. It is called "Lilas Autopartage". Cars are available Boulevard Vauban and Place du Marechal Leclercq.
For more information, www.lilas-autopartage.fr | | TRAIN SNCF – www.sncf.fr - www.voyages-sncf.fr
Tel. +33 36 35 There are two main train stations here in Lille: Gare Lille Europe and Gare Lille Flandres. They are regularly accessible throughout the day via the subway, and they are within walking distance from one another. It is highly recommended that you purchase a ‘Carte 12-25’ (for people aged 12 to 25) before paying for your ticket: you will then receive a reduction of up to 50% on all train fares in France. This card is valid for up to one year (Costs about 50 €).
Ask at the station for more details or www.12-25-sncf.com | TYPICAL MONTHLY BUDGET FOR 2011-2012 | Accomodation (AEU) | from 255 to 398 € | | Food (AEU) | 200 € | | Books and materials | 100 € | | Transport | 50 € | | Personal | 200 € | | TOTAL | from 805 to 948 € | Don’t forget to add at the beginning of the academic year :
- Application fees (if you are not part of a student exchange program)
- French Health insurance : about 200 Euros
- Housing deposit (AEU) : about 595 Euros
- Membership fees (AEU) : about 80 Euros
- Insurance on accommodation : about 34 Euros
Some indicative prices : (July 2011)
| 1 € = 1.41 US $ | Metro Ticket : 1.40 € | | 1 € = 1.34 $CAN | TGV to Paris : from 37 € | | 1 € = 111,86 ¥en | Cafeteria Ticket : 3.05 € | | | Cinema Ticket : 9,90 € | FOOD The cuisine of Lille suits a northern climate, filling as well as tasty. Some of the most famous local dishes include:
- "Waterzoï ", made with smoked and fresh fish.
- "Carbonnade Flamande", beef marinated in beer and onions.
- "Lapin aux pruneaux", rabbit with prunes.
- "Potjevlesch", a delicious combination of jellied veal, rabbit and ham.
Breweries are also a traditional characteristic of this hop-growing area. For cheese lovers, try not to miss the “Vieux Lille”, the “Maroilles” (the most refined of strong cheeses) and “boulettes” from nearby Avesnes. As for the sweet tooth, there are “tarte au sucre”, "tarte à la cassonnade" (brown sugar) and gaufres (waffles) to mention a few. | ON THE CAMPUS (Map of the campus) Each university has its own “Restaurant Universitaire” (RU) or cafeteria. At the Catho, the RU is situated at the corner of rue Meurein and Boulevard Vauban.
The university restaurants offer balanced meals at budget prices. They are open for both lunch and dinner. A typical meal includes a starter, a main course and a dessert for about 3,05 €. Meals are paid for by tickets available at a kiosk in the basement. A book of 10 tickets costs 30,50 €.
For further information: www.aeu.asso.fr | | SOME SUPERMARKETS in the neighbourhood of the university Match : 97, rue de Solferino, Lille – 10 minutes walk
Tel. +33 (0)8.36.35.35.35
Open from 9 am to 8 pm Carrefour Market: 281, rue Gambetta, Lille – 10 minutes walk
Tel. +33 (0)8.36.35.35.35
Open from 9 am to 8 pm Carrefour : Centre Commercial Euralille – 30 minutes walk or 15 minutes by subway (Near Lille Europe station)
Open from 9 am to 10 pm
|  |  | MARKETS “Wazemmes”: the most famous market place in Lille, next to the Saint Pierre-Saint Paul church. On Sundays this central residential district comes alive with stalls selling everything from clothes to tableware to local fruit and vegetables.
10 min walk from the campus or by subway to "Gambetta" station.
From 9am to 1pm every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. “Sébastopol”: Place Sébastopol, Lille.
A 20 min walk from the campus or by subway to “Republique” station.
Open Saturdays from 8am to 2pm. “Place du Concert”: in the old town (Vieux Lille).
Listed as one of the most beautiful markets in France!
Open on Sundays from 8 am to 2pm. | | VEGANS AND VEGETARIANS IN LILLE La Source
13 rue du Plat, Lille - Tel 03 20 57 53 07 -
It is a restaurant and a grocery store not far from the campus
Health food - vegetarian - fish Label Vie
98 rue Solférino, Lille - Tel 03 20 30 99 00
It is the nearest grocery store | CLIMATE Lille is situated in a maritime climate. Temperatures are variable and humidity is high.
- Winter temperature: -5° to 6° Celsius (23° to 43° Fahrenheit)
- Summer temperature: 15° to 25° Celsius (59° to 77° Fahrenheit)
For further information: www.meteofrance.com BANKS Banks are usually open Monday to Friday, from 9am to 12pm and from 2pm to 5pm, on Saturdays from 9pm to 12pm.
Opening a non-resident account is very easy. To open an account, you will need a passport or other proof of identity and proof of residence here in France (housing contract or confirmation from the university accommodation office). Some banks in the neighbourhood of the university :
- Société Générale : 75bis boulevard Vauban - www.societegenerale.fr
- BNP : 85 rue Nationale - www.bnpparibas.net
- Crédit Agricole : 5 place Cormontaigne - www.credit-agricole.fr
- CIC : 38 rue Nationale- www.cic.fr
- Banque Populaire : 106 rue Nationale - www.banquepopulaire.fr MEDICAL SERVICES University medical centre : Centre Polyvalent de Santé universitaire(CPSU)
There is a medical centre on campus at Lille Catholic University.
It is situated 67 Boulevard Vauban, First Floor Tel: 03 28 04 02 40.
A general practitioner can see you from Monday to Friday 8 am - 7 pm;
You can also ask for an appointment with a gynaecologist, a psychologist or a dietician. You are free to consult a general practitioner (called ‘médecin généraliste’). Check if they are ‘conventionné’ (officially registered). Costs from 22 € (70 % reimbursed by the health system).
Cf. the list in the Yellow pages www.pagesjaunes.fr In case of emergency, there are specialised A&E (Emergency or “Urgences“ in French) units at the following hospitals: Lille Catholic University owns 2 university hospitals: Centre Hospitalier Saint-Vincent de Paul
Boulevard de Belfort - 59000 Lille - Tel. 03 20 87 48 48
Subway Porte de Douai (15 min from the campus) Centre Hospitalier St Philibert
59000 Lomme
Subway St Philibert (20 min from the campus) You can also go to the biggest hospital in town: Hospital CHR (Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Lille)
Open 24 hours a day
2 rue Oscar Lambret - 59037 Lille Cedex - Tel.: 03 20 44 59 62
Subway CHR B. Calmette (20 min from campus) PHARMACY Medicine and drugs are sold exclusively in pharmacies.
The shop sign is a green cross.
The closest “Pharmacie” : 67 rue Colbert, 5 minutes walk from the campus. POLICE Lille central police station (Commissariat central)
19 rue Marquillies - 59000 Lille
Tel: 03 20 62 80 00 Local police station (Commissariat de quartier)
3 Place Philippe de Girard - 59000 Lille
Tel: 03 20 17 28 40 POST OFFICE  The sign of the post office is a blue bird on a yellow background. The letter boxes are yellow.
The closest Post Office: 129 rue Colbert - 59000 Lille - Tel. 03 20 14 55 90
(5 min walk from campus)
Open: Monday to Friday 8.30 am - 6 pm and Saturday 8.30 am - 12 pm.
You can:
- buy stamps (which are also sold at tobacconists), pre stamped envelopes, telephone cards (to call from/to France and abroad)
- send letters and parcels, urgent documents, send or receive postal orders
- consult the phone directory
For further information : www.laposte.fr HOW TO GET TO LILLE | BY ROAD Coming from :
- Brussels (motorway A 14, E 17, A22)
- Valenciennes (A23)
- Paris (A1, E17)
- Dunkerque (A25, E42)
- Amsterdam, Antwerpen, Gand (A 22) www.viamichelin.co.uk
www.mappy.com | | BY AIR - Via Paris www.aeroportsdeparis.fr Roissy-Charles De Gaulle Airport:
There are direct trains from Roissy to Lille about every hour at peak hours; the high speed trains TGV (Train Grande Vitesse) takes about 50 minutes. The TGV station is located in Terminal 2 of Roissy-CDG airport and provides for a quick and easy connection between the train and the airport. There are three terminals at Roissy airport. Take the shuttle bus (free of charge) outside the terminal. The shuttle will bring you to the train station (Gare TGV) and leave you in front of the lift. The shuttle buses returning to the terminal buildings arrive at Level 5 of the TGV station, in front of the lift. Choose level 1 for tickets and level 2 for trains.
NB: It is recommended that you purchase a ‘Carte Jeunes 12-25 ans’ (for people aged 12 to 25 years) before paying for your ticket – you will then receive up to a 50% reduction on all fares. The Carte Jeunes is valid for one year (cost of the card: about 50€). Ask at the station for more details or visit the websites www.sncf.com and www.12-25-sncf.com. Orly Airport:
From the Metro 'Orlyval' linked to the airport, take the 'B' line of the RER to Antony. Then, at Antony station, take the metro line to the station Gare Du Nord, where there is a direct TGV to Lille. - Via Lille Lille Lesquin Airport:
www.lille.aeroport.fr
A regular shuttle service links the airport to the centre of Lille (8 km).
Duration: 20 minutes
Shuttle service: from 5.00 am - 11.00 pm
Price: 7,00€ / single ticket - Via Brussels Brussels Zaventem Airport:
www.brusselsairport.be
By train, Brussels Airport is less than twenty minutes from the city centre. From 05:30 till nearly midnight, the City Airport Express links the airport with the stations of Brussels Midi (Zuid/ South), Central (Centraal) and Nord (Noord/North) four times an hour:
- A one-way ticket to Brussels costs 2.60 € second class and 4.10 € first class.
- A round trip ticket from anywhere in Belgium and back, costs maximum 20.00 €.
The train station is located in the basement (level -1) of the terminal building itself. Timetable information for the Airport City Express is available on the Belgian Railways (SNCB/NMBS) www.b-rail.be | | BY TRAIN www.sncf.fr The two stations (Lille-Flandres and Lille-Europe) are close to the town centre. They are both served by the North-European TGV and Eurostar trains from Paris, Brussels and London, as well as by frequent regional services (TER) and, of course, by the French railway, SNCF. Paris (Gare du Nord) to Lille :
Take the Paris - Lille TGV
Duration: 1 hour
Price per ticket: 35 to 50 € (peak hours)
Reductions for students under the age of 25 with “carte jeunes 12-25 ans” Bruxelles Midi/Brussel Zuid to Lille:
Take any TGV or the Brussels-Lille-London Eurostar
Duration: 38 minutes
www.b-rail.be | ARRIVAL AND ORIENTATION International students at Lille Catholic University will be welcomed and helped by the International Office, situated :
70 Boulevard Vauban
Contact: Marie-Eve Bonnet Laborderie
Telephone: +33 (0)3 59 56 69 98 - E-mail: international@univ-catholille.fr
Open from Monday to Thursday 9-12.30 and 1.30-6 pm. Don’t hesitate to visit us! We’ll provide information about:
- what to do to satisfy French bureaucracy
- tips on how to fit in at the university The international office organises welcome sessions for international students at the beginning of each semester. BUDGET HOTELS | All these hotels are 5 to 20 minutes walk from the campus. | | Mister Bed *
57, rue de Béthune, Lille
Tel : +33 (0)3.20.12.96.96
Fax : +33 (0)3.20.40.25.87
Le Faidherbe*
42, Place de la Gare, Lille
Tel : +33 (0)3.20.06.27.93
Fax : +33 (0)3.20.55.95.38
La Tradition **
73, rue Masséna, Lille
Tel : +33 (0)3.20.57.14.52
Lille Youth Hostel
12, rue Malpart, Lille
Tel : + 33 (0)3.20.57.08.94
Fax : 0033 (0)3.20.63.98.93
Open from 7am to 1pm / 6pm to 2am.
www.fuaj.org |  | ACCOMMODATION IN UNIVERSITY DORMS AND FOR SHORT STAYS FINANCIAL AID FOR HOUSING For a stay of more than 3 months in the same accommodation, it is possible to get a rent rebate - ALS (Allocation Logement Social).
ALS is an allowance paid by the “Caisse d’Allocations Familiales” (CAF). Its aim is to help students pay for their accommodation. If you reserve a room in a university hall of residence, please ask for the ALS application form from the Housing Office (A.E.U.) The ALS refunds about 92 € per month from the second month. The allowance is given directly to the student, and the university is not responsible for any part of the process. Further information : www.caf.fr STUDENT CLUBS & SOCIETIES “LA FEDE”
This organisation, similar to a British students’ union, coordinates all the student clubs and societies at Lille Catholic University. It represents students and defends their rights.
It offers :
- an international club. Its aim is to facilitate international students' integration and favour the exchanges between French and international students. It organises visits,parties...
- cultural activities: Rock club, ciné club, photo club …
- services: photo developing, shows, sport and cinema,..
- a solidartiy centre wich coordinates humanitarian actions
- a housing file available on the website LA FEDE
67 boulevard Vauban - 59000 Lille
Tel : 03 20 30 60 26
Fax: 03 20 57 00 76
http://www.fede-lille.com/ - E-mail : contact@fede-lille.com
Open from Monday to Friday 12.30 pm - 4.30 pm TRAVEL | FRANCE LILLE : The city is the capital of Flanders and is strategically positioned within a 250-km radius of six major European capitals, including Paris, London and Brussels. It is an undeniable economic centre encompassing tactical transport structures such as the Euro-tunnel, TGV-high speed trains, and motorway routes, etc., and is rapidly gaining status as a world trade and communications center.
| 
 | PARIS : With its museums, monuments... the city of Paris offers a rich, cultural and touristic life covering all the major artistic disciplines. Theatre, music, major art exhibitions, photography and sculpture, opera, popular celebrations and fireworks, reading improvisations, contemporary or classical dance, festivals of all kinds: Paris just never stops hosting hundreds of major events each year. There is always something different to do at any time of the year.
www.paris.fr
www.parisinfo.com | | LA COTE D'OPALE : This region groups together the coastal towns of the north of France. There are many leisure activities, particularly water sports such as speed sailing, water skiing, jet-skiing and so on. The natural beauty of the region also draws admiration from many visitors who decide to explore its rugged coastline and sandy beaches.
www.opalenews.com | | CAMBRAI : A town with many charming features and a rich history. Lining the historic old streets are many houses from the XVIII and XVII centuries, featuring archetypal architecture from that period. Things to see include the cathedral of Notre Dame from the XVIII century, the church of Saint-Géry with paintings by Rubens, and the Bell Tower. Another site is the Cistercian abbey of Vaucelles, which used to be the largest abbey of the order.
www.villedecambrai.com | | VALENCIENNES : This city is sometimes called the ‘City of Artists’ or the ‘Athens of the North’ because the museum of Valenciennes houses some of the finest works by the artists; Rubens, Watteau and the sculptor Carpeaux, to name but a few! Valenciennes is also famous for its traditional lace making.
www.ville-valenciennes.fr | | BELGIUM BRUSSELS (BRUXELLES) : The capital of Belgium and of Europe, Brussels is a historic city organised around the famous 'Grand Place'. There are many things to see and to do, such as the famous Grand Place, the small pedestrian roads alongside original period houses, the chic quarter of Sablon, the Chinese quarter with the Fountain of Neptune, the Belgian museum of comic strips…
www.bruxelles.irisnet.be
| | BRUGGE (BRUGES) : Bruges is called 'the Venice of the North'. This splendid medieval city is one of Belgium's crown jewels. There is no other European city with the feel and the look of medieval times as present as here in this city close to the North Sea.
Bruges (Brugge) was founded in the 9th century by Vikings who settled here at the end of the little river 'de Reie'. Today's Bruges has a population of about 45,000 people (the old town) or 120,000 people (urban area). These numbers clearly show that Bruges is not a small city. It ranks, even today, among the most important cities in Belgium.
www.brugge.be | | GENT (GAND) : Gent, the capital of East Flanders 55 km to the west of Brussels, offers a wide variety of places of interest. Besides 2 medieval castles, 19 museums, 5 abbeys and 3 beguinages, you will come across dozens of churches and historic buildings.
In the late mediaeval times Gent was the second largest city in NW-Europe, after Paris.
Gent is the core city of a metropolitan area of 515,000 inhabitants. This means that 290,000 people live in the villages of the Gent commuter belt outside the city limits. Every day, 35,000 people commute to Gent.
www.gent.be | | NETHERLANDS AMSTERDAM : The city of art and culture: the Rijksmuseum possesses a vast and impressive collection of Dutch and Flemish paintings, the long canals which surround the historic centre, the facades which rise up in baroccan, rococo and neo-classic styles, the Van Gogh museum, and Anne Frank’s house are just some examples. This city caters to every taste: from art and culture to a buzzing night life, this city never stops. An ideal destination for the discerning traveller!
www.visitamsterdam.nl
|  | | UNITED KINGDOM LONDON : London has the greatest concentration of major attractions in Britain and boasts four World Heritage Sites. Over two hundred attractions are free to enter, so there's nowhere else in the world where you can see so much for so little! Choose from top attractions like the British Airways London Eye or the Tower of London, join a tour or perhaps relax in one of the capital’s beautiful parks and gardens.
www.visitlondon.com
| | GERMANY KOLN (COLOGNE) : Situated on the Rhine River of Germany, Köln’s commercial importance is great. Things to visit include an old town hall from the XIV and XV centuries, the museum of Wallraf-Richartz with medieval and modern paintings, the Schnutgen museum housing ivory sculptures and objects of religious art, and the gothic cathedral with two towers measuring 156 meters in height. The famous carnival takes place here every year at the end of February and at the beginning of March, as well as the markets at Christmas time.
www.koeln.de
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