Summary
Nested within the expansive European metropolis of Lille, Roubaix commenced as an industrial powerhouse in the 19th century, propelled by a prosperous textile industry. By the close of the 20th century, however, this industry significantly declined, compelling the city to redefine its identity.
Yet, remnants of its glorious past remain, provided you know where to look. Invigorating new cultural venues have emerged, and Roubaix’s expansive outlet mall has transformed into a notable shopping hub for cross-border visitors.
Numerous activities await your enjoyment in this region; moreover, Lille and its neighboring cities are always within reach, each worthy of exploration.
Let us delve into the top attractions in Roubaix:
1. La Piscine Museum
The city’s art museum, inaugurated in 2000, is nothing short of extraordinary. The facility is a repurposed 1930s Art Deco swimming pool; the pool chamber, its galleries, tiled walls, and stunning stained glass windows constitute the main exhibition hall, while a nearby former textile factory provides additional exhibition space.
This cultured environment showcases exhibits narrating Roubaix’s textile industry history and an extensive archive of thousands of samples dating back to 1835. Additionally, visitors can peruse textiles from Ancient Egypt, a rotating fashion collection, fine ceramics, and paintings by renowned artists, including Tsugouharu Foujita.
2. La Manufacture
It is fitting to explore the textile-making legacy while visiting Roubaix. The city proudly maintains its textile heritage at La Manufacture, a museum housed in the former Craye factory.
The expansive 19th-century building invites visitors to discover a hall filled with machines from various eras. Vintage hand-operated looms from medieval times stand alongside contemporary computerized machines, complemented by all former equipment from the factory’s operational period.
Textile artisans conduct demonstrations using this machinery, and the museum features an impactful audio archive containing personal accounts from foremen, weavers, and spinners reminiscing about their experiences.
3. Villa Cavroix
Witness the splendor of Roubaix’s textile prosperity at this remarkable modernist residence in Croix. Villa Cavroix was commissioned for Paul Cavrois, a textile industrialist, and was skillfully designed by the esteemed architect Robert Mallet-Stevens.
The residence, completed in 1932, was groundbreaking upon its debut and has recently undergone restoration to welcome the public after years of abandonment. The rooms maintain their 1930s charm, with some left unfurnished to accentuate Mallet-Stevens’ architectural craftsmanship and the premium quality of the marble and wood used in paneling and flooring.
4. Parc Barbieux
Located just south of the city center, Roubaix’s primary park has an intriguing history: The waterway flowing through the park is a remnant of an unsuccessful attempt to connect Roubaix’s center with the Marque River. This endeavor initiated in 1840 was abandoned midway, leading to the banks and mounds left by the construction works being transformed into a picturesque English garden at the turn of the 20th century.
During the summer months, families can enjoy various recreational activities, including a mini-golf course, pedal boats, rowing boats, a pétanque court, and a handful of kiosks.
5. Église Saint-Martin
A church has existed on this site for nearly a millennium, although no remnants of the original Romanesque structure remain. However, the nave features columns sculpted in the 1400s, while the architecture underwent a comprehensive neo-Gothic renovation in the mid-19th century, overseen by architect Charles Leroy, noted for his extensive work in the North of France, particularly around Lille.
Within the church, visitors can admire the polychrome altarpiece of St. John the Baptist, dating back to approximately 1540, along with paintings by the esteemed 19th-century fresco artist Victor Mottez.
6. City Hall
Roubaix’s Hôtel de Ville serves as a remarkable testament to the city’s zenith. Commissioned in 1903, architect Victor Laloux, the designer of the Gare d’Orsay (now Musée) in Paris, collaborated with sculptor Alphonse-Amédée Cordonnier to create a Neo-Renaissance homage to the city’s textile industry.
Pay attention to the frieze adorning the facade of the central pavilion, featuring six figures, each approximately 2.40 meters tall, showcasing the essential activities that sustained Roubaix: cotton harvesting, washing, spinning, weaving, dyeing, and conditioning.
7. Paris-Roubaix
The Roubaix Velodrome marks the conclusion of the illustrious Paris-Roubaix cycling competition, a prestigious event on the UCI World Tour that occurs each April. Known as a “Monument” or classic, securing victory in Paris-Roubaix is a remarkable feat for professional cyclists due to the challenging terrain, featuring rough country roads and cobblestones.
The race’s difficulty led to it being famously dubbed “Hell on the North” with the associated moniker, “A Sunday in Hell.” Cyclists utilize specialized gear tailored for this grueling course. Whether observing along the strenuous route or at the finish line, no cycling enthusiast should miss this event.
8. McArthurGlen Roubaix
An integral component of the city’s revitalization initiative, this expansive designer outlet center opened just a few minutes south of the city center. The mall attracts shoppers from Lille and Belgium, hosting 75 stores featuring a range of premium and designer brands such as Calvin Klein, Guess, Lacoste, and Desigual.
Interspersed among the retail outlets are various spots to relax and enjoy a meal or a coffee, alongside free Wi-Fi, a children’s play area, and multilingual staff available to assist visitors.
9. Usine Motte-Bossut
Among Roubaix’s industrial giants, the Usine Motte-Bossut stands out for its whimsy and architectural grandeur. Resembling a colossal castle, this cotton mill features a gatehouse-like entrance and a chimney designed to resemble a turret.
Easily recognizable, the factory, constructed adjacent to the Roubaix Canal in the city’s heart on Rue du Général-Leclerc, primarily dates back to the 1840s, with additional extensions completed into the 1920s. While its operations ceased in the 1980s, the site underwent restoration and now houses the National Archives of the World of Work, under the French Ministry of Culture.
10. Verlaine Message Museum
Situated less than ten minutes from Roubaix in Tourcoing, this museum occupies a massive Nazi bunker that once served as the 15th German Army headquarters. Radio Londres was the French Resistance station broadcasting from London during the war, transmitting coded messages on 5 June 1944, the night before the Normandy Invasions, using snippets of poetry by Paul Verlaine to alert the Resistance for mobilization.
This bunker intercepted those messages, offering an extensive collection of communication equipment, generators, signal detectors, and various military artifacts for visitors to examine.
11. Brasserie Cambier
Located en route to Lille in Croix, this craft brewery hosts tours every Saturday afternoon, harkening back to the thriving breweries that once characterized the Nord region during the 19th and 20th centuries. During the tour, visitors receive a step-by-step overview of how Cambier produces its “Mongy” craft beer, available in various styles, including blonde, IPA, and triple.
The experience concludes with a tasting session and an opportunity to purchase bottles or stylish glasses as souvenirs.
12. LaM
Lille’s Modern Art Museum resides in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, under a 15-minute drive from Roubaix, contingent upon traffic conditions. This distinguished institution is renowned in Europe for its extensive collections encompassing significant movements of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Additionally, it ranks among the premier global venues for Outsider Art or Art Brut, celebrating creations by self-taught artists and psychiatric ward patients, which prove to be both fascinating and provocative. Contemporary art enthusiasts can enjoy works by Pierre Soulages and Daniel Buren, while the 20th-century galleries boast remarkable pieces by Picasso, Modigliani, Braque, Paul Klee, and Joan Miró.
13. Old Lille
A sightseeing excursion to Lille’s historical center is a must, as it is only a short distance away. The core of the city is protected, which becomes evident as you navigate its cobbled streets. The Flemish influence is clearly illustrated through graceful structures, including the Mannerist 17th-century Vieille Bourse, where merchants once negotiated deals.
On the neighboring Grand Place, characterized by stately gabled buildings, it is evident that you are in a significant urban center. Be sure to visit the world-class Palais des Beaux-Arts, the Renaissance Librarie Furet du Nord, and Lille’s UNESCO-listed belfry before returning to Roubaix, hopefully exhausted yet satisfied!
14. Parc Zoologique
For an economical day of entertainment for the family, visit Lille’s Parc de la Citadelle. Nestled beside the bastions of Vauban’s 17th-century military stronghold, the city’s zoo is open seasonally from spring to autumn. Children will delight in observing diverse wildlife, including zebras, panthers, rhinos, monkeys, and a variety of tropical birds.
The zoo’s operation is funded by the municipality, making entrance entirely free for all visitors. Surrounding the park is the Deûle Canal, offering pleasant strolls along its verdant banks, with the park’s lawns dotted with exotic tree species, such as the enormous sequoia planted in the 1800s.
15. Food and Drink
Positioned near the border and situated in a region of France with a longstanding Flemish heritage, the local cuisine reflects a comforting amalgamation of French and Belgian influences. Within cozy traditional “brasseries,” numerous specialties are feature cooked with beer, including the regional variant of Welsh rarebit known as “Welsh,” which comprises melted cheese combined with beer, mustard, and spices, spread generously over toast.
Beer also serves as the foundation for carbonade flamande, a braised beef stew, and is used in the batter for beignets (traditional doughnuts) and even crêpes!
