What to do in Roubaix Our ideas for a different way of visiting the city

To visit Roubaix is to enter a city where the old spinning mills still whisper, while creativity pulsates around every corner.
The red bricks keep alive the memory of the textile industry, the monumental frescoes burst with colour, the workshops open and the museums shine.
If you’re wondering what to do in Roubaix, let yourself be carried away: daring street art, industrial heritage, fashion outlets, hybrid venues and great addresses weave together a unique, vibrant and resolutely creative experience.

Whether you’re coming to visit Roubaix for a weekend, a day’s shopping or to explore the Creative Quarter, you’ll find here all our ideas for discovering the city in a different way!

La Piscine, André Diligent Museum of Art and Industry

Housed in Roubaix’s former Art Deco swimming pool, La Piscine is now one of the most emblematic museums in the Hauts-de-France region.
It houses collections of applied arts, sculptures and textiles, displayed around the original pool, restored in 2001.

Temporary exhibitions, major works from the 19th and 20th centuries, interior gardens and unique architecture make it a must-see when visiting Roubaix.

La Manufacture, museum of textiles and industrial memory

Located in a former weaving mill, La Manufacture traces the history of textiles through a collection of working looms.

Demonstrations, workshops and an immersive scenography help visitors understand the know-how of the old Roubaix factories that shaped the city’s identity.

The Couvent des Clarisses (or Couvent de Roubaix)

A place for creation and meetings
A former convent from the early XXᵉ century, this remarkable building now hosts artists, exhibitions, residencies, workshops and events.
Its preserved architecture, interior gardens and singular atmosphere make it a major cultural venue in Roubaix’s creative territory, where heritage and creation meet.

Street art in Roubaix

Roubaix is now one of the most dynamic street art scenes in the Hauts-de-France region.
The city is home to a number of monumental frescoes, works from the Expérience Urbaines festival, and creations by international artists.

Brownfields, urban trails and painted walls make street-art in Roubaix a truly open-air experience.

Parc Barbieux – One of France’s most beautiful urban parks

Nicknamed “the Bois de Boulogne of the North”, Parc Barbieux is a listed Jardin Remarquable.

Ponds, bridges, waterfalls, century-old trees and vast lawns make it an ideal green setting for a nature break just a stone’s throw from the city centre (60 ha).

It’s a favourite with visitors and families alike, perfect for a stroll, a picnic or a quiet moment between two cultural visits.

Textile heritage and designers

In the Quartier Créatif, Roubaix’s textile heritage blends with a new generation of designers, craftspeople and committed boutiques.

A former wool capital, the city still inspires: old factories become workshops, showrooms and experimental spaces, and fashion is reinvented around upcycling, second-hand and responsible design.

There are thrift shops and vintage boutiques,concept stores showcasing local designers, fashion creators and emerging brands, as well as collaborative spaces dedicated to recycled materials and textile innovation.
These addresses are often located in preserved industrial buildings, where bricks, glass roofs and old machines are a reminder of the city’s history.

In this way, the Quartier Créatif becomes a veritable trend laboratory, where the textile soul of Roubaix meets the creativity of today.

Hotels in Roubaix

Design hotels, family-run establishments, addresses close to museums or the city centre.

Guest rooms

Cosy guest houses, renovated industrial buildings, local atmosphere.

Gîtes and self-catering accommodation

Welcoming gîtes, combining industrial charm with the gentleness of everyday life.

Tourcoing

Just outside Roubaix, Tourcoing has a vibrant cultural atmosphere.
The MUba Eugène Leroy, the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tourcoing, offers a dialogue between classical and modern collections and contemporary art through a varied programme of exhibitions, while theHospice d’Havré – Maison Folie transforms a former convent into a lively venue where concerts, exhibitions and workshops open to the public take place.

In the streets of Tourcoing town centre, cafés, bright squares and boutiques liven up the stroll. With its blend of heritage, art and urban charm, Tourcoing is a great way to extend the experience of the creative area around Roubaix.

Croix

Just a few minutes from Roubaix, Croix is synonymous with elegance and an exceptional heritage.
The Villa Cavrois, a masterpiece by Robert Mallet-Stevens, was built in 1932 for the industrialist Paul Cavrois. Restored by the Centre des Monuments Nationaux, it stands out for its spectacular volumes, integrated furniture and geometric gardens.

St. Croix’s tree-lined residential areas, parks and tranquil vistas provide a soothing contrast to the hustle and bustle of the neighbouring towns. It’s a gentle stop-off, perfect to round off a day’s visit to Roubaix.

Between nature, heritage and urban escapades

Just a few minutes from Roubaix, a number of communes offer great ideas for outings:
Marcq-en-Barœul, La Madeleine and Wasquehal are great places to stroll along the Marque, with their elegant little streets, cafés and nature or sports trails.

Lannoy, Lys-lez-Lannoy and Leers are less well-known, revealing a discreet heritage, traces of textile history and footpaths perfect for a break in the countryside.

Toufflers and Mouvaux have a peaceful atmosphere, ideal for gentle walks, cycle paths and family outings.

Further north, Roncq and Neuville-en-Ferrain combine natural areas, restaurants and direct access to Belgium for a cross-border getaway.

Finally, Mons-en-Barœul is home to a major heritage site: Fort de Mons, a historic site from the XIXᵉ century hosting tours, entertainment and cultural events – a stopover not to be missed to complete your exploration of the metropolis.

Nicknamed the “Hell of the North”, the Paris-Roubaix race is one of the most famous cycling competitions in the world. Followed passionately in France and the UK, it attracts thousands of spectators every year to watch the riders tackle the legendary cobbles of the North.

In Roubaix, this emblematic event has shaped a true sporting identity.
Its legendary finish at the Roubaix Velodrome, the cobbled sectors, the country lanes and the long straights make it an experience as spectacular as it is historic.

But Paris-Roubaix isn’t just a one-day event:

• visitors can cycle the iconic cobbled sections,
• discover the André-Pétrieux Velodrome,
• visit the shower room, which has become a cult venue for the race,
• follow cycle routes inspired by the official route,
• or simply feel the unique energy that accompanies each edition.

Whether you’re a cycling fan, a sports enthusiast or just curious, Paris-Roubaix offers you an insight into a sporting heritage that is unique in Europe – a blend of tradition, challenge and emotion that continues to write the city’s history.