The mapping past of Interphaz

Interphaz played a key role in organizing workshops and participatory evenings for the creation of alternative tourist maps...

USE-IT Lille: an alternative tourist card worn by Interphaz

USE-IT is an international network of alternative tourist maps, free and non-commercial, designed for young travellers. These maps are created by local residents and offer an authentic experience of the cities by highlighting unusual places, bars, restaurants and little-known cultural spaces. Lille joined this network in 2014, becoming the first French city to offer its USE-IT card, a project carried by Interphaz.

A participatory and local approach

Since 2014, Interphaz is at the heart of the development of the Lille map, with a collaborative approach that allows the inhabitants to participate actively in its creation. Far from classical tourist maps, the map USE-IT Lille is imbued with local testimonies, allowing visitors to discover the city through the eyes of those who live there.

Interphaz played a key role in organizing workshops and participatory evenings, where people are invited to propose and vote for the places they want to see on the map. This method makes it possible to create a map that truly reflects the tastes and preferences of the Lille people, while valuing local initiatives.

The beginnings of the USE-IT project

The USE-IT network originated in the 1970s in Copenhagen, where young travellers were looking for meeting places in Europe. The mayor of the city then provided them with land and buildings to accommodate them, where the idea of a traveler's map was born. Over the years, this initiative has been structured and extended to several European cities.

In 2008, the USE-IT Europe association was set up to ensure graphic consistency and respect for the original charter: free cards, updated regularly, and designed exclusively by local residents. Today, more than 250 cities across Europe have their USE-IT map, including Lille.

The essential role of Interphaz for USE -IT Lille

Interphaz was the driving force behind the creation of the first USE-IT card in France. In 2014, she brought together a team of volunteers to launch the project, which quickly met with great success. The first edition, with 15,000 copies, was followed by a second in 2016 with 30,000 copies and a third in 2019 with 50,000 copies.

Each edition of the map is unique, reflecting the aspirations of the volunteers involved. 2021 is the fourth and last edition of the Use-it map in Lille.

Thanks to this initiative, young travellers can explore Lille in an authentic way, while contributing to the soul of the city. A beautiful way to discover the Lille metropolis from a new angle, off the beaten track.