8am. Autumn morning. The light is just starting to appear and everything is still wet. No dog today — Gapi is on holiday. So we walk straight through the middle of the park.
A quiet spot to start the day in Lille
The Jean-Baptiste Lebas Park — often called JB Lebas or the “red park” — has something a bit magical on cool mornings: shiny grass, damp pathways, and the city slowly waking up around it. This park, set between Moulins and Lille-Centre, used to be a parking lot before being transformed into a real green space more than fifteen years ago. It’s the perfect place for a gentle run or a walk when staying at La Maison Fives.
A neighbourhood in transformation
Lille Fives and the Lille Fives Cail area are full of energy. More and more creative projects and local initiatives are emerging: studios, galleries, small shops, and places where ceramics and the arts take shape. It’s exactly what we wanted to contribute to by turning this corner house into a design-focused accommodation: welcoming, creating, sharing. Our ceramic studio-shop just behind the hotel is part of that dynamic.
For our visitors
If you stay with us, don’t forget your trainers. Whether you’re into running, a slow morning walk, or hunting for photo spots, Parc JB Lebas is a great starting point to explore Lille. And if you feel like staying cosy at home, our shop and ceramic studio are open to chat about ceramics, discover unique pieces, and leave with a local souvenir.
To explore our hotel, our rooms, and our studio-shop, it’s here: La Maison Fives.
See you soon
We end the run, head back for a coffee, and go straight to the studio. If you want to follow our little mix of morning runs and ceramics, visit the original Facebook post to watch the reel: https://www.facebook.com/reel/2070604583747332/
October morning, autumn settling in quietly. We love starting the day here, just south of Lille-Europe station, for a short run or a peaceful walk. Parc des Dondaines is one of our regular spots when we’re in Lille — and especially when we’re staying at La Maison Fives, our five-room hotel tucked into the Lille Fives Cail district.
Calm, green and a bit urban — the perfect mix
What we love here is this unique blend: nature and glass towers, stillness and business. It almost feels like a small Lillois version of Central Park. At 8am it’s still quiet — joggers passing by, a few cyclists, and sometimes people walking their dogs. And that makes a real difference: in many Lille parks, dogs aren’t allowed. Here at the Dondaines, they are welcome, and it really shows. Our border collie is obviously thrilled.
An ideal spot for our guests
For travellers looking for accommodation or an unusual place to stay in Lille, Parc des Dondaines is a real bonus. From La Maison Fives, you’re just a few minutes away: a quick morning run, a stroll to wake up, or a moment to disconnect before exploring the city. If you’re looking for a cosy guesthouse, design rooms and a neighbourhood in full transformation, this is the perfect combination.
Between stay and creation
We also love how lively the area is: on the street side you’ll find our ceramic studio-shop and artistic creations — a space where gallery and shop come together. After a green walk at the Dondaines, stepping into the studio to see pieces in progress or chat with us is often the natural follow-up to the morning.
Practical info
Parc des Dondaines is easy to access from Lille-Europe station and the city centre. Perfect for a nature break right in the heart of Lille Fives.
If you’re around for a weekend or a work trip, put your running shoes on at sunrise — we might cross paths. And if you prefer a slow walk, the morning stroll remains one of our favourite little rituals.
Sunday morning: luxury bags, a run, and a city on the move
We often pass by the Louis Vuitton boutique set inside the former Huitrière, just a few steps from the Hermès store. Once, people came here for oysters; now it’s for bags. Soula runs, Gapi trots along, and the city slowly wakes up on this quiet Sunday morning. It’s a small moment of everyday life we love sharing.
A look at a changing Lille
Some will tell you that Lille isn’t Lille anymore, that it’s becoming too trendy. We think it’s simply more diverse. The Vieux-Lille has become quite chic, the city centre keeps its balance, Wazemmes and Moulins hold on to their popular, lively soul, and Fives is clearly rising. And then there are all the more residential areas. In short, Lille is great.
La Maison Fives, right in the middle of it all
We imagined La Maison Fives as a meeting point: a five-room hotel, a contemporary guesthouse, a place of accommodation and everyday life anchored in the neighbourhood. On the ground floor, the shop and the ceramic studio, our small gallery, create a link between making and hosting — that balance between hospitality and creative work is what we love.
We love the energy of the neighbourhood
When we run in the morning, we see everything: the charm of the Old Town, the boutiques, the old factories being transformed, new cafés appearing. We like this balance between what was and what’s coming. And being just a few streets away from places that make noise, like the former Huitrière turning into a luxury store, tells a lot about a city reinventing itself.
To finish
If you’d like to discover La Maison Fives, stay in an original guest space, book one of our rooms, or drop by our ceramic studio and shop, we’ll be happy to welcome you. We’re here, in Lille Fives Cail, at the heart of a neighbourhood that’s changing and inspiring us every day.
Good news: in Lille, you can literally spend a whole week discovering the city through its food courts. It’s simple, fun, and ultra-local. And from La Maison FIV (our five-room mini-hotel), you can walk to Fives Cail — an eco-district that’s already here — then head over to Wazemmes, Lille-Centre, Vauban, and the wider metropolis. Fives is a bit like Lille’s Brooklyn: creative, post-industrial, and delicious.
Fives Cail — the creative eco-district (already here) ★
Chaud Bouillon — foodie & cultural hall
Our neighborhood HQ. Big hall, counters, terrace, events, home-made cooking & local produce. Set in the Passage de l’Internationale at the heart of Fives Cail.
A stay at La Maison Fives to fully enjoy the festive season in Lille
Each year-end, Lille lights up with festive cheer and hosts one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in France. To enjoy the magic without the crowds of the city center, La Maison Fives is your ideal retreat: a stylish and cozy guesthouse, close to the festivities but in a peaceful setting.
The 2025 Lille Christmas Market: Magic on Place Rihour
The Lille Christmas Market will take place from November 20 to December 29, 2025 on Place Rihour. With nearly 90 chalets offering local crafts, unique gifts, and regional culinary specialties (mulled wine, croustillons, waffles, and roasted chestnuts), it’s the must-see winter event in Lille.
Set up throughout the holiday season on Grand’Place, the Ferris Wheel offers a breathtaking view over illuminated Lille. At its base, a magical winter scene with a giant Christmas tree and miniature chalets completes the picture. A moment to share with family or friends.
Unmissable festive events in Lille
Beyond the market, Lille offers various festive activities:
Special exhibition “Flemish Celebrations” at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in December 2025. Exhibition program
Concerts and street performances in Old Lille throughout December.
Ringing in the New Year in Lille
For New Year’s Eve, Lille favors private festive events, with no official fireworks but plenty of happenings:
Themed parties in bars and clubs of Old Lille and Saint-Sauveur (Bistrot de St So, Grand Scène).
Special dinners in traditional estaminets, especially on rue de Gand.
Be sure to book your outings in advance, as this night is very popular.
Why choose La Maison Fives over Airbnb or Booking in Lille?
Rather than opting for an impersonal Airbnb or a reservation via Booking.com, choose La Maison Fives for an authentic and relaxing stay in Lille:
5 rooms with private bathrooms and high-end bedding.
Cozy library-lounge, shared kitchen, and private urban garden.
Quiet yet lively Fives Cail neighborhood with local restaurants and nearby shops.
Easy access: metro line 1 (Fives or Marbrerie stations), bikes (V’Lille), and secure Zenpark parking nearby.
Discover the Fives Cail eco-district during your stay
La Maison Fives is located in a former industrial district transformed into a vibrant cultural hub:
