Lille — The Forgotten Watermark Fraud

Your investigation begins at Place du Général de Gaulle, formerly Grand'Place or Place du Marché, the beating heart of Lille. Since the 17th century, this 12,000 m² area has been the scene of Flemish textile trade. In the center, the Column of the Goddess, erected in 1828, commemorates Lille's resistance in 1792 against the Austrians, standing 24 meters high. The buildings classified as Historic Monuments in 1886 surrounding it have seen generations of merchants, and perhaps also the forgers you are looking for. Analyze the engraved symbols, as the truth about the fraud often hides in the most anodyne details of this emblematic place in the Capital of Flanders.

A few steps away, the Old Bourse of Lille, built between 1652 and 1653 under Spanish rule, stands, classified as a Historic Monument in 1914. Its 2,600 m² paved inner courtyard, surrounded by 24 identical pavilions, housed the Merchants' Exchange, an ideal place for transactions and plots. It was here, in 1797, that the Treaty of Lille was signed between France and Great Britain, an event that marked the diplomatic history of the region. Observe the ornaments, as counterfeit watermarks might have been exchanged under these arcades. Rue Esquermoise, paved since the 17th century, lined with 17th-18th century private mansions, was an old commercial route for Flemish textiles. Number 67, a restored 18th-century private mansion, is in this district classified as a protected sector in 1964. These discreet places often served as a refuge for artisans and smugglers.

The path leads you to the Lille Opera, founded in 1751 as a performance hall, rebuilt in 1914 after a fire, and classified as a Historic Monument in 1922. Its 50-meter-long facade with 8 Corinthian columns, capable of accommodating 950 spectators, hosted the first performances of Berlioz's works in 1846. Although the current building dates after your era, the spirit of the Opera, a place of gathering and secrets, endures. The luxury and intrigues of the court mingled with business, offering forgers fertile ground for their schemes. Look for clues in augmented reality reconstructed period programs or posters, as the world of entertainment often served as a front for more obscure operations.

Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille Cathedral, elevated to cathedral status in 1916, was built between 1854 and 1872 in a Neo-Gothic style, replacing a 12th-century church destroyed in 1793. Its 70-meter-high bell tower and 19th-century stained-glass windows by the Lobin workshops tell a story of resilience and faith. While the current monument is more recent than your mission, the site has always been a place of pilgrimage and gathering. Forgers could have hidden evidence there, or even found refuge. The Vauban Garden, created in 1974 on the ramparts of Vauban's citadel (1670), covers 10 hectares and preserves remains of the fortifications inscribed as Historic Monuments in 1937. Formerly a military glacis until 1960, this strategic location, designed by the royal engineer Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban, could have served as a secret meeting point for conspirators.

Your journey concludes at the Lille City Hall, built between 1432 and 1454 under the aegis of Philippe le Bon. Its belfry tower, culminating at 104 meters, is classified as UNESCO in 2004 and houses 30 bells. The motto 'LILLE MŒNVS DESOLARE DVCATVS', meaning 'Never abandon Lille, Duke', is engraved on its facade. It is here, the seat of municipal power since 1790, that crucial decisions for the city of Lille were made. Your investigation has uncovered the workings of the fraud and the ingenuity of the forgers. As a royal archivist, you have helped protect the heritage and economy of the Capital of Flanders, from its Hauts-de-France monuments to the thematic circuits revealing the history of Lille. This interactive family visit to Lille offered you a unique immersion into the history of this city, a true GPS augmented reality treasure hunt.