Lille or Tournai (Belg) or?

Thank you for the detailed information.
I have been to Antwerpen, Gent and Brugge. More than once.
I was just looking for a new French or Belgian town...
I really enjoyed Liege as the people there are so nice, etc.

@ scythian Thanks for the reply!
Would you say that Lille has more to offer than Mechelen, or?

@ scythian

Haha okay, thank you. Yes, lucky me!
I have not seen Brussels, which I assume is a ghastly mistake.
I am just curious, how is Mechelen more beautiful? Architecture? Surrounding landscape?

Thanks for your help!!! :)

Thanks much.

I am a huge fan of Lille and like Lille a hell of a lot more than Bruges. Bruges is far too touristy for my tastes. The food in Lille is fabulous and the art and there are more museums than you can shake a stick at. Their Musee des Beaux Arts is one of the best in France. I spent 9 days there 2 Christmases enough and I could have easily stayed longer. I took two day trips from Lille: Roubaix to see the amazing Piscine museum and Lens to see the Louvre-Lens, and Tourcoing,

You can actually stay ON the Grand Place in the Hotel Bellevue.

Lille is a big city with big city amenities but it isn't gigantic. It is large enough for a metro system but can easily be walked.

I also like Lille. It is not a good base for visiting Flanders, because of train distances. But that's not your plan. Lille happens to have two major train stations, including Eurostar.

@tim Thanks that's good to know!