Rue de Béthune, Commercial street in central Lille, France
Rue de Béthune is a pedestrian street running through central Lille for around 270 meters, connecting several cross streets and ending at a square. Its length is lined with roughly fifty shops on both sides, ranging from clothing to sports gear and other retailers.
The street came into being in 1603 during a period of urban expansion in the city. It was first called rue Notre-Dame before receiving its current name in 1793.
The street became a center for cinema when Lille's first movie theater opened there in 1907. This start led to the later development of larger film venues in the area.
The pedestrian area is open Monday through Saturday with most shops opening around mid-morning and closing in the evening. The flat paved surface makes walking comfortable and straightforward for all visitors.
A Wallace fountain stands near the street's end and is the last of its kind remaining in the city. These cast-iron drinking fountains from the 1800s have mostly disappeared from French streets.
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