"Where it all began"
Charles de Gaulle was born in Lille on November 22, 1890, in his maternal grandparents' home. This place represents the site of "joyful reunions" with his Good Grandma, cousins, and uncles and aunts. Push open the gate at 9 rue Princesse and step into the history of the three families who frequented the place: the Maillot, the de Corbie, and of course, the de Gaulle. For little Charles, this is the childhood home we all carry in our memories. "As I age, it is always childhood that prevails. And if I could be myself, it would probably be on rue Princesse, where I was born." Words of Charles de Gaulle reported by André Frossard in the 1960s. The birthplace represents an era, a way of living and thinking at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Discovering it means immersing oneself in the heart of bourgeois family values, understanding the construction of identity, personality, and the thought of the future President. Throughout his life, Charles de Gaulle remained attached to this house, to this neighborhood, drawing from his northern roots the values that sharpened his social fiber. Converted into a museum in 1983, classified as a historical monument, and labeled Maison des Illustres, the house is owned by the Charles de Gaulle Foundation. It has been managed by the Nord Department since 2014. Its complete renovation in 2020, the discovery of original decorations, family testimonies, and a campaign to acquire furniture and decorative art objects have recreated an authentic Lille bourgeois home from the Belle Époque. This immersive scenography plunges you into the intimacy of Charles de Gaulle's childhood.
Event from the official agenda of the City of Lille; location: Charles de Gaulle Birthplace; address: 9 rue Princesse 59000 LILLE.
Source: Ville de Lille