As well as forging links with its textile past, of which it has preserved an exceptional heritage, the former wool capital of the world, is following a trajectory that is raising it to the rank of capital in many fields: fashion, street art, zero waste, the digital industry and, of course, cycling! Welcome to the city that transformed its thousand chimneys and old industrial bastions into fertile ground for creativity, experimentation and innovation.
Roubaix, a land of cycling… and soft mobility
The long-running connection between Roubaix and cycling is epitomised by the Paris-Roubaix classic. Roubaix is home to the Parc des Sports, a cycling venue like no other in Europe. Its main site is the historic André Pétrieux Velodrome, where the legends of cycling proudly hold the fabled cobblestone trophy of Paris-Roubaix aloft. There is also the Jean Stablinski regional indoor velodrome, which hosts national and international events and competitions. Last but not least, the BMX circuit is where the annual BMX Open takes place. Vélo Club de Roubaix and its UCI Continental team, Van Rysel-Roubaix Lille Métropole, which flies the flag for pro cycling in the Nord department and the Hauts-de-France region, are also part and parcel of city life. The city has also been adding more bicycle lanes and paths year after year and they now span the entire municipality. It also has 30-odd bicycle sharing docks, part of a public bicycle sharing system completed by City Hall in 2021, with 100 bicycles and 500 e-scooters available from over 125 stations. Finally, the city is heavily sport-oriented and proud of its “Terre d’Excellence Cycliste” label, as well as its 4-laurel wreath “Ville active et sportive” and “Cycle City” ratings.
A city of art and history
The history and heritage of Roubaix are worth exploring and sharing. The award of the “Ville d’art et d’histoire” label in 2001 spurred on new efforts to write and rewrite history. In Roubaix, heritage is so much more than just old stones. It also impregnates the everyday life of Roubaisiens. Roubaix delivers on its promise with La Piscine Museum, which welcomes over 250,000 visitors a year, as well as reimagined spaces such as La Condition Publique, a real laboratory for culture and social, urban and environmental innovation. There are, of course, other must-see places such as La Manufacture (a textile history museum), the churches of Saint Joseph and Saint Martin, the Motte-Bossut factory, the City Hall and Parc Barbieux, the largest urban park north of Paris.
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