"A few hundred meters from Lille TGV station is one of the oldest large cemeteries in France. The eastern cemetery occupies an area of 22 hectares. The cemetery of East was created in 1779 on land belonging to the Coustenoble-Dujardin family who wished through their donation that this old park retain its landscaped character. The park is home to around 520 plant species.
The cemetery is a pleasant place to walk in the shade of these venerable trees, especially in the hot summer months. A few benches allow the elderly and others to rest from time to time.
The layout of some 36,000 graves mixes different social categories, reflecting the city of Lille and its history. The burials of the workers sit alongside the opulent funeral chapels of the bourgeoisie and the barons of the industry, in particular the textile industry, who have made the wealth of the north of France."