Parc de la Citadelle

The Citadel Park is the green lung of the city of Lille. It is a 20 minute walk from the centre, but you can go by bus. The Citadel was built by the military architect Vauban in the seventeenth century, and the park around it is surrounded by water, as part of the defensive strategy. During invasions, the military could fill the channels with water, and when the English and Dutch attacked the citadel, it held out for over seven weeks. The park is very large, and often hosts a fair with rides and games for children. It lies northwest of the city, and was first used as a park in the second half of the nineteenth century.