Description:
The Old Stock Exchange, situated in the historic centre of Lille, is a monument of major historic importance to the city. The building constructed in 1652 by Julien Destré, consists of twenty-four commercial housings built around a rectangular courtyard, of which the central space and the galleries were originally were originally meant as a place for trade and commerce. Today they are open to the public and used for the sale of old books and flowers. The exceptional character of the Old Stock Exchange is created by its abundant and original sculptural decorations: caryatids, terms, garlands, festoons of fruits and flowers and cornucopias. The Stock exchange was restored to its original splendor. The façade and the interior courtyard were restored according to the original design and materials, with complete renewal of the stone sculptures and window details. The historic building, symbol of the mercantile tradition of the region and of the dynamic civil society, has been recreated in embellishing and revitalizing the heart of the city of Lille.