Last updated: November 5th, 2024
When I first moved to Roubaix, I saw it as a practical place to live near Lille—not exactly a destination with exciting things to see. But after spending time here, I discovered that Roubaix is full of fascinating history and hidden gems worth exploring!
Roubaix was once among the wealthiest towns in France, home to some of the country’s richest families. Its was once the heart and soul of the textile industry in France and this legacy lives on in its unique attractions today. The town has transformed its industrial past into a vibrant cultural scene with museums, historic sites, and beautiful parks, for tourists and locals to explore and learn more about this northern industrial town.
If you’re planning to visit, I strongly suggest spending a day in Roubaix if you’re looking for an off-the-beaten-path experience. Here are 5 of the best things to do in Roubaix to make the most of your time visiting the north of France.
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5 things to do in Roubaix
1. La Piscine Museum
Address: 23 Rue de l’Espérance, 59100 Roubaix
One of Roubaix’s most unique attractions is the Piscine Museum. If you know a little French, you’ll know that ‘piscine’ means swimming pool. So why on earth is it called the ‘swimming pool museum’!?
Because the museum is housed in a beautifully refurbished 1930s public swimming pool. The museum’s preserved art deco design surrounds the former pool, now transformed into a space for sculptures, while old changing rooms display artwork from the museum’s collection.
The building alone is worth a visit, with massive stained glass windows and quirky design choices that turn historic details into an artistic experience. For instance, you’ll walk through the former showers upon entering, seeing old private spaces repurposed creatively for public art.
I particularly enjoyed the textiles and fashion floor. They had costume sketches and set ideas for various operas on display with huge bingers filled with more textiles under the tables.
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2. Parc Barbieux
Address: Parc Barbieux, Avenue le Notre, 59100 Roubaix
This spot is probably one of my personal favourite things to do in Roubaix. Parc Barbieux is an expansive, beautifully maintained 86-acre park—perfect for a relaxing day outdoors. Regardless of the season, the park’s landscaping and scenic spots are so peaceful and full of life. In spring, vibrant flower beds and massive hanging trees make the park especially picturesque.
This isn’t just any park; Parc Barbieux is known as one of France’s finest urban parks, meticulously cared for to provide a safe and clean environment. With play areas for children, a quaint café, ponds with birdlife, rock gardens, sculputres and waterfalls, there’s so much to see and do in this park.
You’ll find locals and visitors alike enjoying sports, picnics, art installations, and quiet strolls – this might just sound like your average park, but trust me, Parc Barbieux is a really nice space to spend time and is definitely something to check out when you’re in Roubaix.
✨ Looking for other day trip ideas from Lille? Check out these Train-Friendly day trips from Lille to Belgium!
3. Villa Cavrois
Address: Villa Cavrois, 60 Avenue John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 59170 Croix
Hidden in the neighbourhoods between Roubaix and Croix, about a 10-15 minutes walk from Parc Barbieux, lies the large estate of the Villa Cavrois. The Villa Cavrois is a grand estate from the 1930s with a rich and complex history. This iconic 1930s home, with its minimalist interiors and striking architecture, reminds me of a time capsule.
The villa’s history is fascinating—it was occupied by the Germans in the 1940s and used as barracks during WWII, it suffered significant damage, and later fell into disrepair before being meticulously restored in 2001.
Compared to other famous palaces or estates across Europe, the Villa Cavrois is definitely unique. Most other historical buildings are filled from top to bottom with lavish decorations and expensive stuff. This house is completely the opposite with minimalism almost making it feel empty. It feels like stepping back in time, with its unique geometric design, colorful rooms, and historical photographs, bringing you back to its glory days.
My favourite room was the parent’s bathroom for 2 reasons. 1) Again, because of the shocking way they chose to use the room, leaving rather expansive empty spaces and 2) because it was the first time I have ever seen a bathroom with full carpeting.
4. Roubaix Centre
Address (McArthur Glen): 44 Rue Mail de Lannoy, 59100 Roubaix
Roubaix Centre is perfect for wandering, starting from the vibrant Grand Place. With a beautiful town hall, church, and a variety of terraces, it’s a lovely spot to begin your walk. Venture further down Grand Rue, to lively Place de la Liberté, with colorful buildings, live music and cafes. You’ll eventually reach the McArthur Glen outlet mall—a charming shopping destination with architecture similar to London’s Covent Garden – directly across from the Roubaix Eurotéléport metro station.
It was a lovely place to walk around and window shop. Several food trucks were offering some sweets and treats and there are nice areas to sit and enjoy this busy corner of Roubaix. All of this to say, we had a very pleasant wander around Roubaix Centre and would recommend checking it out!
✨ Visiting Lille in September? You should know about the city’s most iconic festival – the Braderie de Lille!
5. La Manufacture
Address: 29 Avenue Julien Lagache, 59100 Roubaix
La Manufacture museum offers an immersive look into Roubaix’s textile legacy, housed in a historic textile factory from 1914. Visiting this museum gives a new appreciation and respect for the craftsmanship of textile workers, with impressive displays of looms from different periods that demonstrate the industry’s evolution.
If you take a guided tour (primarily offered in French), you’ll see the looms in action and learn about the physical and technical skill required to operate them. The museum displays machines, tapestries, and tools that tell the story of Roubaix’s industrial roots. Even if you don’t speak French, many exhibits have English information panels and video guides with subtitles, allowing you to fully appreciate the scale and history of this once-thriving industry.
This is probably one of the most surprising things to do in Roubaix. I was blown away by the size and complexity of using a loom. And don’t even get me started on tapestries! Seeing the thousands of strands of string or yarn floating over each machine was overwhelmingly impressive.
Tips for visiting Roubaix:
📆 Its a great day trip from Lille. You don’t need a tonne of time to visit as there isnt an endless list of things to do in Roubaix – you can easily accomplish everything on this list in a day! The city also hosts a variety of events throughout the year, like Sustainable Christmas Markets, weekend flower markets, and seasonal festivities. Check out their official website for more up-to-date info on what’s happening during your visit!
🚊 You can get here using public transit. Roubaix is only about 20 minutes from Lille by tram or metro. You can buy tickets at any machine, with options for single rides or day passes, depending on how long you’re in Lille. You can take public transit easily from Gare Lille Flandres or Gare Lille Europe!
👩🏼🍳 Enjoy a meal while you’re here! We found several really nice restaurants, cafes and patisseries while living in Roubaix. One of our go-to’s is just outside of Parc Barbieux called Le Fer à Cheval – the food is incredible and very reasonably priced! Plus, if you’re visiting during the warmer months, they have a wonderful patio to enjoy dinner outside!
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Enjoy exploring Roubaix!
Roubaix may not be on every traveler’s list, but it truly has a character all its own, with a rich history, remarkable architecture, and local culture. From exploring the fascinating La Piscine Museum to relaxing in the picturesque Parc Barbieux, Roubaix offers a surprising mix of art, nature, and historical landmarks. If you’re looking for an off-the-beaten-path experience just a short trip from Lille, I hope this list of things to do in Roubaix as inspired you to explore!
So whether you’re an art lover, history buff, or simply curious to see a unique side of northern France, add Roubaix to your itinerary and discover this hidden gem for yourself! Use this as a reminder to always be a tourist – explore your local area and always have your mind set to discover!
Did you know? I’ve helped many travelers plan their trip to France from my travel guides to my custom travel planning services. Check out my Thatch page to learn more on how I can help you have the best trip to France!
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