The little yellow house

The narrow yellow façade you see is mistakenly thought to be the smallest house in Lille. It is in fact a passage leading to the other side on the Place du Lion d'Or, and has been there since the Middle Ages. It is part of a beautiful group of facades around the cathedral. The circular layout of the houses reminds us that the square was built on the old feudal mound and was surrounded by the canals of the Deûle river. Their dry bed can be seen in the cellars of the houses. Look up and check out the gargoyle like shape above the door, it is called a mascaron and it is said to have been put there to ward off spirits!