Roubaix

Roubaix is located in northern France, close to the Belgian border and the city of Lille. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Roubaix was a major center of the textile industry, earning the nickname “city of a thousand chimneys.” Today, it blends its industrial legacy with creative innovation.

A highlight is La Piscine, a former art deco swimming pool turned into an inspiring art and industry museum. Its exhibitions include painting, sculpture, textile design, and decorative arts, presented in a spectacular setting.

Roubaix is also world-famous for the cycling race Paris-Roubaix. The finish in the iconic André-Pétrieux Velodrome is legendary. Street art, artist workshops, and redeveloped industrial buildings add a modern cultural layer to the city.

Other key sites include the modernist Villa Cavrois, built in 1932, and La Manufacture, a museum showcasing the region’s rich textile history.

Easily accessible by metro from Lille, Roubaix is ideal for a day trip or cultural weekend – a city where raw industrial heritage meets contemporary creativity.