Lille [lil] (neerlandeză Rijsel) is a city in northern France, capital of the prefecture of the department of Nord-Pas de Calais North. The city has a population of 191,164 inhabitants, but the metropolitan area has over 1.7 million inhabitants.
The first mention of Lille city dates from 1066, but archaeological excavations show that the area has been inhabited since 2000 BC The name comes from the word Lille L'Ille (island), as was once marshy region. The name was used for Castle Count of Flanders,
but built on land surrounded by swamp. Dutch name of the city, Rijel, has the same meaning.
