Finding the best chocolate shops in Lille is a great way to start the day.   Guided by a “chocolate walk” app, we visited some scrumptious chocolate shops.

Jean Trogneux Chocolatier

Mid-chocolate walk, I got sidetracked by a beautiful patisserie.

Meert Patisserie, established 1761

Before we finished our walk, I bought both chocolates and pastries – for later, of course.

We packed a picnic and set off to hike in the the Parc de la Citadelle. Our route took us through the Jardin Vauban where we discovered a beautiful little fruit garden that was created in 1868 to teach the growing of apples, pears, peaches and grapes.

The Parc de la Citadelle is a large green space surrounding the Citadel, a pentagonal military structure built between 1667-1670 that is still used today.

Bridge leading to the Citadel

The park is a popular spot for runners and cyclists. We didn’t see any cyclists, but we saw tons of runners.  Sadly, it rained on us, so we had our picnic in our apartment.