Charles de Gaulle was born on November 22, 1890 at 9 rue Princesse, in the home of his maternal grandparents. Pushing open the door of this bourgeois home, you enter the intimate world of a childhood shaped by a family environment that was both patriotic and deeply religious. Each room recounts a fragment of the founding atmosphere that would have a lasting impact on the future statesman.
Completely renovated in 2020, the house has regained its Belle Époque decor: furniture has been restored, formerly closed spaces have been reopened, and the ambience has been carefully maintained to faithfully recreate the daily life of a well-off Lille family at the beginning of the 20th century. Listed as a historic monument and labeled a Maison des Illustres, it is today a unique testimony in Lille to the art of living of this period.
The tour offers an immersive historical journey, complemented by temporary exhibitions, conferences and educational workshops. As you wander through these rooms steeped in memory, you'll grasp the deeply personal dimension of a place where the origins of a major figure in French history are sketched out.