Housed in a superb 19th-century building, Lille's Palais des Beaux-Arts is second only to Paris' Louvre. The impressive collection of European art (the result of Napoleonic looting) includes Rubens and Rembrandt while spacious galleries are dedicated to Monet and Renoir.
Don't miss the basement display of original architect's models of all Louis IV's northern fortified towns, from Calais to Lille, created by Vauban, legendary royal castle builder. A whole gallery is devoted to 19th-century French sculpture, giving a panorama of the period from Houdon to Bourdelles, with works by Pradier, Carpeaux, Carrier-Belleuse, Bartholdi, David d'Angers, Camille Claudel and Rodin.