Or take a stroll around a mine reclamation pond

Beware of appearances! Here, almost everything is the product of mining: headframes, slag heaps and… ponds! Underground mining activity has weakened the soil and upset the hydrography, giving rise to mining subsidence ponds covering hundreds of hectares.

Take a stroll along the banks and marvel at the magnificent views. They’ve already attracted a multitude of birds, who stop here on their migration or make it their year-round home! In 1996, the site was awarded the “Arbre d’argent public”, a trophy recognizing the most beautiful landscaped areas in France.

The site, which is ecologically managed in partnership with hunters, has been made accessible to the public by the Département.

Mountain-biking and horse-riding are freely available, as are water sports such as sailing, paddling, canoeing and pedal-boating, thanks to the presence of a nautical base managed by the commune of Condé-sur-l’Escaut.

Amaury in Hergnies

A little corner of paradise, surrounded by nature. That’s what comes to mind after walking the paths around the Amaury pond between the communes of Hergnies and Vieux-Condé.

The Amaury site is a mosaic of natural and aquatic environments, comprising some 160 hectares of natural spaces, including 60 hectares of water. Also the result of mining subsidence, the site is of high environmental quality.

With its many pathways, it offers numerous observation points for breeding and wintering birdlife. Ownership of the site is shared between the Département and the Parc Naturel Régional Scarpe Escaut, which manages it.

La Mare a Goriaux

La Mare a Goriaux is a mare in name only, but it’s a real, majestic 90-hectare “little lake”.

The site is part of a 270-hectare reserve, classified as a state biological reserve in 1982. The “mare” was formed when three ponds were brought together following a mining subsidence in the early 20th century. In 1968, an ornithological reserve was created here, featuring 300 species of rare birds that can be observed from the observatory at the top of the slag heap. The two-kilometre-long slag heap was formed by mining operations, the heap being a pile of mining debris.

The Argales beach at Rieulay
For a stroll and potentially a dip, head for the Rieulay mining subsidence pond, very close to Valenciennes (20 minutes by car). Located in the Scarpe-Escaut Regional Nature Park, the 10-hectare “Base de loisirs des Argales” is entirely dedicated to leisure activities. You’ll find a nautical base where you can rent a windsurf, a canoe or a small sailboat to navigate on the water. Next door, the sandy beach welcomes sunbathers and swimmers in July and August. Swimming is only permitted from July to August, from 2pm to 6pm, in the supervised swimming area marked by water lines, buoys and red and yellow flags.