or LISLE, a strongly fortified and important manufacturing town of France, capital of the department of Nord, is situated on the Deule, a canal connecting the Scarpe and the Lys, 51 miles S.E. from Dunkerque, and 171. N. of Paris, by railway; N. Lat. 50. 38. 44., and E. Long. 3. 3. 59. It stands in a flat and fertile district, and is surrounded by very strong fortifications and wet ditches. It is entered by seven gates, has wide and regular streets, and is generally well built. One of the most conspicuous Lillebonne objects in the town is a citadel in the form of a pentagon, attached to which there are barracks and magazines. This fortification is one of the finest specimens of the skill of Vauban, and is considered impregnable, both from being furnished with every description of military appliances, and because the canal can be used to isolate its position. The town-hall is a curious mass of buildings, in the Gothic style, built in 1430, and was anciently occupied by the dukes of Burgundy. It contains an interesting and valuable collection of drawings by the old masters, among which are 86 by Raphael, and 197 by Michael Angelo. The church of St Catherine, interesting for the beauty and simplicity of its architecture, is adorned with a painting by Rubens, considered by some the finest effort of his genius. The Hôpital Comtesse, founded in the thirteenth century, although somewhat injured by fire in 1467, is still in a good state of preservation. There are several buildings for scientific and literary purposes, an exchange, prisons, and a number of philanthropic institutions. Lille is very deficient in its supply of good water, and the greater part is taken from the canal.

The manufactures of Lille are very important, the principal being cotton yarn, cotton cloths of various kinds, woollen fabrics, paper, leather, soap, and oils. There are about 300 windmills in the neighbourhood, which are used in producing the oil. There are also sugar refineries, iron and copper foundries, and bleaching establishments. The trade in hops, chicory, hides, wool, &c., is extensive. The working classes, in consequence of low wages and dissipation, are always poor, and their dwellings are for the most part wretched ill-ventilated hovels.

Lille was founded in 1009, by Baudoin IV., Count of Flanders. It fell into the power of Philip the Fair, after a siege of three months, in 1297, and was taken again by Guy, Count of Flanders, in 1302. The Protestants attempted in vain to surprise it in 1581; and the French besieged it, without success, in 1645. Wrested from the Spaniards by Louis XIV., in 1667, and retaken by the allies in 1708, after a long and obstinate siege, it was ceded to France by the treaty of Utrecht. The Austrians bombarded it from the 29th September till the 6th October 1792, but the garrison, admirably supported by the bravery of the inhabitants, compelled them to raise the siege. On each side there was a loss of about 2000 men killed and wounded. Pop. (1851) 68,463.