Lille

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Lille (Flemish, Lisle) City in nw France, near the Belgian border; capital of Nord department. It flourished in the 16th century under the Dukes of Burgundy. In the late 17th century, Lille became capital of French Flanders; the building of a stock exchange established its commercial reputation. It is a major industrial, commercial, and cultural city. Industries: textiles, engineering, chemicals, brewing. Pop. (1999) 191,164.

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