Climbing to the top of a slag heap and contemplate 3 centuries of mining epic

You can enjoy this experience in the heart of a sensitive natural area between marshes, slag heaps and ponds, in a part of our territory where the mining epic has its origins: the Condé region.

Head for Chabaud-Latour and the Ledoux slag heap!

Getting there

Around the legendary Ledoux pit

The start of your journey into the mining world will be close to the café-rando La Roselière. In the natural setting of the Espace Chabaud-Latour, the old estaminet blends with the conviviality of adventure to the delight of young and old alike. You can have lunch before or a drink after your fun hike!

The site of the former Ledoux pit is now a space dedicated to walking and relaxation. It’s hard to imagine that this entire natural area is the result of intensive industrial exploitation of the subsoil. Founded in 1901 by the Compagnie des Mines d’Anzin, the pit has now completely disappeared. Dismantled in 1989, only one vestige of this important industrial site remains today: the twin headframe n°1 dating from 1951.

A feast for the eyes In the Unesco World Heritage mining basin

At the heart of the Scarpe-Escaut Regional Nature Park, the Chabaud-Latour natural site covers over 400 hectares. In addition to its historical interest, this site offers a wide range of attractions for nature lovers, birdwatchers, sports enthusiasts and families. Something for everyone. Remarkable in more ways than one, it is one of the elements of the Bassin Minier area listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site since 2012.

Did you know?

The virtual tour of the old mine takes visitors back in time with two never-before-seen virtual reality reconstructions of the mine in 1952, a year marked by major modernization work and a major photographic campaign. Rendr, in collaboration with the Valenciennes Tourist Office and Condé-sur-l’Escaut’s Archives and Heritage Department, drew on the latter to create these 3D experiences.

100% Immersive & fun Discover with fun an industrial and natural heritage

During this digital tour, you’ll discover the rich heritage of this former industrial site of Condé-sur-l’Escaut and the daily life of its workers, the miners. You’ll also learn how this mining landscape has been transformed over time to become a natural site recognized internationally for its rich biodiversity.

Punctuated by anecdotes about the workings of a coal mine, quizzes, 360° photographs, virtual reality experiences and mini-games, the “Fosse Ledoux, la mine disparue” digital walk invites visitors, the curious and the casual walker to discover the history of this cultural, industrial and natural heritage in a fun way.

The Ledoux slag heap

The climb is well worth the detour…and the view! With its 70m vertical drop, a beautiful and invigorating climb awaits you! Follow the black paths as you slalom between the birch trees that have taken root on the slag heap. Born of coal extraction from the nearby Ledoux pit, this slag heap is also a fine testimony to the mining era. Once at the top, enjoy the panoramic view over the Condé region and the plunging view over the headframe and the pond.

©View from the Fosse Ledoux slag heap. Condé-sur-l'Escaut.|Samuel Dhote

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The Ledoux headframe

On the outskirts of the fortified town of Condé-sur-l’Escaut, the mining industry has produced, among other things, a remarkable heritage… Together with the church tower, the Ledoux headframe is the most visible monument in the commune. Together with the church steeple, the Ledoux headframe is the town’s most visible landmark, and one of the town’s special witnesses to its industrial history, presenting an example of the modernization of coal extraction pits in the 1950s. The Ledoux pit closed in 1988, and when the premises were dismantled, one of the headframes was preserved and listed as a Historic Monument in 1992.