Lille, France

Lille France is an amazing little city, brushed over by most tourists as a post industrial workers town, yet this town has rebounded tremendously since 1990.  The old city center is intact with its beaux arts style opera house, grand pedestrian plaza, and cobble stone streets.  Now, only a block away from the old train station stands the towns new section, Euralille.  This complex designed by both Rem Koolhaas and Jean Nouvel (MPLS Guthrie), is situated over old military land in the city center, and now contains a modern mall, high rises, and the Lille High Speed Rail Station.  Lille is now one hour from Paris, one and a half from London, and two hours from Brussels.  I cannot think of a better city to study abroad in.