Roubaix: Textile History, Art and Architecture
Accommodation in Roubaix
Roubaix brings together its textile industrial heritage with art, architecture and street art. When looking for a hotel in Roubaix, it may help to first choose the focus of your stay: Would you like to view collections, explore production history, admire buildings or discover art in public spaces? The sites offer different ways to engage with these themes.
La Piscine: Art in a Former Swimming Pool
At La Piscine, art collections meet the history of a former public swimming pool: the museum is housed in Roubaix’s former municipal baths. Its collections include applied arts and fine arts, as well as textiles, sculpture and decorative arts. This lets you explore textile themes not only as industrial history, but also in the context of art collections. La Piscine offers free visits, guided tours, talks, workshops and concerts throughout the year. Individual activities and dates may vary; the presentation of specific works may also change. If you would like to see a particular event or exhibition, check the current programme.
Textile Work and Its History
La Manufacture offers a different perspective: this museum is dedicated to commemorating the textile industry of Roubaix and its surrounding area. Machines are operated in front of visitors to show how wool and other fibres are turned into yarn and fabric. Video testimonies from textile industry workers are also available. This presents two perspectives on textile work side by side: the individual stages of production and the testimonies of people who worked in the industry.
The Hôtel de Ville de Roubaix adds an architectural highlight. The building covers 6,150 m² and has a façade almost 100 metres long. Its monumental, eclectic design, along with numerous sculptures and decorative details, refers to the textile industry and the values of work. Unlike a museum visit, the building itself and its decorative programme are the main focus here.
La Condition Publique and Street Art
La Condition Publique combines a former industrial function with a contemporary cultural role. From 1902 to 1912, it was a facility for processing wool, silk and cotton. Today, it serves as a venue for artistic and cultural experimentation, with events, concerts and exhibitions throughout the year. Check the dates of individual events before your visit.
Street art also offers a different way to see Roubaix. The Roubaix Tourisme street-art map, in its 2024–2025 edition, features a route of about 4.5 km around La Piscine. This approximate distance applies to that edition of the map, so check which version is current during your stay. Dép’Art Urbain is different: this vertical street-art route passes through the Gare de Roubaix car park and leads up to the roof. Dép’Art Urbain also includes seasonal additions. The two formats differ in their layout: a route around La Piscine versus a vertical route through a car park.
A Distinctive Highlight in Parc Barbieux
Parc Barbieux features remarkable trees, children’s playgrounds and a boules court. A visit to the park therefore adds a different kind of outdoor experience to a trip focused on art, industrial history and architecture. If you want to use a particular park facility, check its availability in advance: facilities may change.
Discover more destinations: Ghyvelde, Bourbourg, Bousies, Naves, Féron, Prouvy, Croix, La Madeleine.
For the regional travel overview: Nord.
