| Lille, by far the largest city in northern France, spreads into the surrounding countryside in a mass of sprawling suburbs, but it has an attractive historic centre. The old town of Lille forms an interesting area north of the Place Rihour, with some fine buildings including the ornate stock exchange, the baroque Théâtre de l'Opéra, the town hall, and the Chamber of Commerce. The Musée des Beaux-Arts contains one of the finest collections of exhibits outside Paris: ceramics, tapestries, and Dutch and Flemish paintings, including works by Dirk Bouts, Jacob van Ruisdael, and Pieter de Hooch.
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