3 Best Sights in Champagne Country, France

When fire destroyed Lille's opera house in 1903, a new, grander edifice began to rise after more than 10 years of construction. Unfortunately, the outbreak of World War I set everything several steps back; after the war, more renovation was required, but the theater eventually opened in 1923. As impressive as the Belle Époque facade is on the outside, it's the sumptuous grande salle on the inside that truly dazzles, with its gilding, marble, chandeliers, and massive dome. The space suffers no dearth of activity today; the stage teams with operas, concerts, and dance performances.

Restored in the 1990s as part of the revitalization of the city, this museum now ranks among the best in France. It takes special pride in its prized Flemish and Dutch collection, with works by Van Dyck, Rubens, and Brueghel. There are also equally impressive paintings, sculptures, and ceramics by Monet, Goya, and Delacroix. The prints and drawings room alone holds 30 pieces by Raphael. Originally established by decree by Napoléon Bonaparte in 1801, the museum moved into its current Belle Époque--style building in the late 19th century.

Lille's finest efforts in architecture can be witnessed at the Old Stock Exchange in the heart of the old city. Built in the mid-17th century as the result of bankers' and traders' petitions for a more comfortable business environment than the previously open-air location, the building rose in grand fashion, adopting a Flemish Renaissance design laden with elaborate reliefs, cherubs, and garlands. Today, the central courtyard, wrapped by 24 houses and connecting arcades, is home to secondhand bookshops, florists, and chess competitions. In summer, tango dancers join the mix.