Roubaix was known in the 19th century as the City of a Thousand Chimneys. Formerly a prosperous factory town, known for its cotton, wool and silk production, this city just 20 minutes from Lille fell into decline in the last half of the 20th century. Now, however, it is the site of serious urban regeneration, and the city's many industrial buildings have been re-purposed with a more cultural slant.
Take, for instance, Roubaix's La Piscine - Musée d'Art et d'Industrie. The museum houses textiles, drawings and ceramics, all in a former art-deco swimming pool. Another conversion is La Condition Publique. The building was originally built as a goods store for raw materials used in textile production, and now it is the city's arts centre. Many of the city's factories have been refurbished as luxury homes and art studios. Others are now offices, dance studios and even a university.
Now, Roubaix has dubbed itself the Mail Order Capital of France, and it is an excellent destination for discount shopping. The city is home to two factory outlet malls. McArthur Glen, built in 1999, has 60 discount stores and can be reached at metro Eurotéléport. Nearby to it is L'Usine, which is the first factory outlet centre ever built in Europe. It opened in 1984, and is home to 85 shops. For a history of the textile industry in this area, stop by the Jacquard Museum, which displays a collection of looms, some which date as far back as the Middle Ages.
Apart from its industrial heritage, Roubaix offer a number of historical buildings, from Pavillon du concierge, at the Palais Vaissier to the 1920s architecture of the Parc du Sports. The city is also the final destination of the celebrated Paris-Roubaix cycling race, and guided tours are given of the cobblestoned finish line and the Velodrome, complete with the opportunity to take a turn around it yourself.
