By tramway from mine site to mine site

In February 1884, Émile Zola realized his plan to spend a few days in mining country. It was in the Valenciennois, on the land of the Compagnie des Mines d’Anzin, that he would carry out the preparatory work for the writing of his famous novel Germinal. Take your turn to discover the landscapes and places that inspired him, and which are now on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

One of the must-see and easily accessible sites is the Coron des 120, straddling the communes of Valenciennes and Anzin. Aesthetic emotion guaranteed! This 120-home complex consists of 6 perfectly aligned bars, each housing 20 units installed back to back. The complete alignment reaches 250m

Get there by streetcar! From Valenciennes, take direction T1 and stop at Saint-Waast station.

Make your visit even more original. Retrace Zola’s route aboard the tramway and experience a touring podcast that plunges you into the year 2084, 200 years after Zola’s visit. Name: Destination2084

Château Dampierre and its grounds

Built at the end of the 19th century, this small “château d’industrie” was part of the landholding of the Compagnie des Mines d’Anzin (founded in 1757). It is the only surviving example of a series of opulent mansions built in Anzin to house mining supervisors. It illustrates the diversity and richness of the built heritage inherited from the mining era.

Dutemple headframe – “Dutemple” station

The Dutemple headframe dates back to 1920, and is made of reinforced concrete in the style of metal headframes. Standing proudly in the center of a public garden, it is a remarkable example of the Art Deco style of headframes built after the First World War. It was originally shaft no. 2 of the former Dutemple pit in Valenciennes, sunk for the Compagnie des Mines d’Anzin. The pit ceased operations in 1949.

Back to the roots of mining

Head for the cradle of mining history! From Valenciennes, take the T2 line towards Condé-sur-l’Escaut. From the “Condé Hôtel de ville” station, it’s less than 5 minutes’ walk to the remarkable Chabaud-Latour mining site.

On the way there or back, we recommend a stopover in Fresnes-sur-Escaut. This is the town where coal was discovered in February 1720… A sedan reminds us of this historic fact in front of the town hall. Getting off at the “Fresnes Hôtel de ville” station takes you directly to the Parc Joliot Curie. This public garden is the former estate of a château that belonged to the Vicomte Désandrouins, a pioneer in the search for coal in northern France. The Fresnes park is set at the foot of an elegant little classical château. A vast space for strolling and leisure, it still houses the Temple de l’Amour, a remarkable monument to 18th-century French art built on the former feudal motte surrounded by a diversion of the old Escaut river. The château and its park are part of the Mining Basin World Heritage Site.

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