Sobre este lugar
The La Voix du Nord building is one of the most photographed facades on the Grand Place, yet it is far younger than it looks. Built in 1936 by the architect Albert Laprade entirely in reinforced concrete, it mimics the stepped gables and rich ornament of traditional Flemish houses so convincingly that it blends seamlessly with its centuries old neighbours. Allegorical carvings of sailors, fishermen, workers and farmers run across the facade, celebrating the working people of the north whose lives filled the pages of the paper. Crowning it all stand the Three Graces, bronze figures by Raymond Couvegnes representing the provinces of Flanders, Artois and Hainaut served by the newspaper. The name carries weight of its own: La Voix du Nord began in April 1941 as a clandestine Resistance paper under German occupation, printed in secret at great risk, before emerging into the open after Lille's liberation in 1944.
Datos clave
- 1936 year — Albert Laprade built the concrete headquarters in neo Flemish style
- 1941 year — La Voix du Nord first appeared as a secret Resistance newspaper
- 3 statues — The gilded Three Graces crown the roof for Flanders, Artois and Hainaut
📍 Galerie Grand'Place, 59800, Lille