Or climb a slag heap around Valenciennes

This micro-adventure with friends is accessible on foot from the Valenciennes marina (VALESCAUT).

The port is located just after Pont Jacob, on your right as you come from the center of Valenciennes. This bridge was used to cross the Scheldt when leaving the city’s fortifications. It was here that the oldest pits of the Anzin mining company were opened. Today, all traces of the mine have disappeared. Only the name of the quay along the Escaut – Quai des mines – recalls this history. After a 30/45 min urban approach walk, you’ll arrive at the starting point of your “climb”.

1. Walk along the Quai des Mines to the Cité des Congrès. Admire the slag heap on the horizon.
2. Cross the “Rives Créatives de l’Escaut” district. Head up Rue Jean Jaures.
3. Join the Cité du Moulin via Rue du Commandant Gilles Fabry.

The “climb” begins in the cité du Moulin, built partly “astride” one of the slag heaps.

To enjoy the view, you need to :

1. Drive through the “cité haute” du Moulin, (follow the only road to the traffic circle).
2. Then take the forestry-style path on your left as you reach the traffic circle. This is where your exploration of the slag heap begins.
3. After around 400 metres, you’ll have to climb another narrow slope. Be careful! It’s a bit steep (okay, it’s a bit rough, but it’s worth it).
4. Well done! You’ve finally reached the roof. The whole city opens up to you.
   With each level you climb, you feel the effects of the wind a little more.

Halfway up, the view is already astonishing. Opposite you, below, the Cité des Congrès building doesn’t seem so imposing.

What I like about the Bleuse Borne slagheaps in Anzin

These spoil heaps are linked to the Bleuse Borne pit of the Compagnie des Mines d’Anzin, which operated for one of the longest periods in the coalfield. The shaft was sunk in 1783, and coal mining on the site did not cease until 1935. It was then used as a service shaft until 1955.

The conical slag heap you’re about to climb has retained its original morphology; modest in size and height, it occupies a 2-hectare site.

It’s SURPRISING and DEPAYSANT!

Between woodland and mineral, the Bleuse Borne slagheaps are set into the urban network.

The site forms an interesting promontory and natural heartland. Today, they are home to special ecosystems, thanks to their internal heat and the fact that they have never been cultivated. The Anzin slag heap is home to thermophilic plants such as viper’s broom, evening primrose and St John’s wort.

What I like about the Sabatier slag heap in Raismes

I like to climb the Terril Sabatier Nord to get up close to the treetops, as it’s right in the middle of the forest and offers a 360° panorama of the canopy.

Valenciennes is located near one of the region’s major forests. Many of our towns and villages border the Foret de Raismes-Saint-Amand-Wallers. This slag heap can be reached in just a few minutes by car from the town center.

To discover this slag heap, I recommend the Sabatier circuit. Go to the Maison de la Forêt to start the circuit that will take you to the summit.

Bonus: the Maison de la Forêt houses a permanent exhibition on the Sabatier forest mining site and its history. The Maison de la Forêt is open from April 1 to the last day of the autumn vacations: on Wednesdays from 2pm to 5pm and on school vacations (Monday to Friday) from 2pm to 5pm.

The “Wow” ascent of the Chabaud-Latour slag heaps at Condé-sur-l’Escaut

The Chabaud-Latour site features a trio of slag heaps. Two “flat” but extremely wooded slag heaps offer multiple paths and spectacular views over the Chabaud-Latour ponds and the black dam.

The third, the Ledoux slag heap, is a “conical” slag heap. Fifty metres high and visible from afar, it acts as a signpost. At its summit, it offers wide-open views of both the Chabaud-Latour mining complex and the surrounding landscape of Condé-sur-l’Escaut.

To make your climb to the top of the Ledoux slag heap an even more memorable experience, I recommend a “LegendR tour”.

Do you know LegendR?

It’s a FREE application that turns your smartphone into a time machine. Available in over 50 destinations in France and Europe, LegendR is a tourist guide that lets you explore a city, a monument, a site…

Thanks to LegendR, you have access to the tour: Fosse Ledoux, the vanished mine

It’s an immersive stroll, starting from the café-rando La Roselière (formerly the estaminet de la mine) to discover the world of the mine, the exceptional natural environment of Chabaud-Latour, the flora and fauna, and a climb up the slag heap. Designed for the whole family. This guided tour is punctuated by numerous photos and videos, quizzes and other fun activities.