Lille, Ghost town in the Crowsnest Pass, Alberta, Canada

Lille is a ghost town in the Rocky Mountains that today shows only ruins and old foundations. The settlement was built around 1901 to house coal workers and their families, and once had about 80 buildings including homes, shops, a school, and a hospital.

The settlement began around 1901 when French businessmen discovered coal deposits and built a mining community. The mines closed in 1912 due to falling coal prices and declining quality, leading to the town's rapid decline.

The village was first called French Camp, then renamed Lille after the French city where the mining venture's financial backers were based. The 50 Bernard-style coke ovens came from Belgium, and the numbers stamped on their bricks for reassembly can still be seen on many bricks at the site.

Lille is reached on foot: a 6.3 km (3.9 mi) hike from a parking area near the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre, or a 7 km (4.3 mi) hike from a parking area on the Grassy Mountain Road out of Blairmore. The route follows the steep, narrow valley of Gold Creek through rough terrain, so allow enough time and go in good weather.

The 50 Bernard-style coke ovens were first planned for Frank, but after the 1903 Frank Slide wrecked the rail spur, they were built at Lille instead. Each brick was numbered so the Belgian ovens could be reassembled; many numbers remain visible today.