The forest of Raismes-St-Amand

With 4,600 ha, the Raismes-Saint-Amand-Wallers state forest (remnant of the ancient “Vicoigne forest”), northwest of Valenciennes, is the second largest forest in the Nord department, but the largest forest in the Scarpe-Escaut regional nature park, of which it has been a part since 1967. It is a state-owned forest managed by the Office National des Forêts.

165 km of trails and 60 km of forest roads and tracks are open to the public.

Getting there

Recharge your batteries in the forest

165 km of trails and 60 km of forest roads and tracks are open to the public, including the Allee des Hêtres, lined with bicentennial trees, and the Arenberg Trench, famous for its cobblestones that host the annual Paris-Roubaix cycle race.

Sites are equipped with parking lots, picnic tables, information panels, footpaths… A campsite is located to the north of the forest, near the Mont des Bruyères, as well as a very welcoming inn, the Auberge du Lièvre.

Heritage sites and hiking routes

A number of circuits allow you to discover the mining heritage (Sabatier site, Miners’ circuit) and natural heritage (sentier du Coucou, Goriaux pond). While most of these short loops are suitable for families, some have a more sporting profile for hikers, mountain bikers or horseback riders. The forest is also crossed by the GR 121 and the GR de Pays du bassin minier.

In addition to the mining remains of the Raismes-Saint-Amand-Wallers forest, many other heritage sites can be seen in the region (mining pits, slag heaps, housing estates, railway stations, etc.). Since June 2012, the Nord-Pas-de-Calais coalfield has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Did you know?

The forest is classified as a Natura 2000 zone to protect the habitat of several bird species that frequent aquatic environments (teal, grebes, bluebirds, etc.) or the Sabatier slag heap (Petit Gravelot). Numerous amphibian species (newts, toads, frogs, etc.) are also present.

Four biological reserves have been created. Three have a scientific vocation and access is regulated. The fourth has been set up around the Goriaux pond for educational purposes.

The forest massif

Our towns and villages on the edge of the forest

Let yourself be charmed by our towns and villages on the edge of the forest.

Aubry-du-Hainaut, Bruay-sur-Escaut and Odomez offer direct access to the forest.

Set off from the former level crossing of the “Gueules Noires” greenway on Rue Pasteur in Bruay-sur-Escaut to reach the “Rousseau Lagrange” slagheap site, a large area within the Raismes-Saint Amand forest.

Leaving from Odomez, take the “Cuckoo” family trail, which winds its way along the paths and forest slopes of the Raismes-Saint-Amand massif. It allows you to discover the forest’s plant diversity.

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The Forest House

Located on the edge of the forest, rue Fontaine Bouillon, near the Princesse roundabout, the Maison de la forêt is the Scarpe-Escaut Regional Nature Park’s educational facility. It offers activities for schoolchildren on environmental awareness days.

In season, it houses temporary exhibitions, an audio-visual show and a permanent exhibition.

Every year, our animators propose educational forest outings for the whole family. Weekends or Wednesdays.

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The Trouée d'Arenberg

The trouée d’Arenberg, or Wallers-Arenberg trench, whose real name is the drève des Boules d’Hérin, is a cobbled sector of the Paris-Roubaix cycling race, some 2,300 m long and currently rated five stars, the most difficult level.

The sector consists of a long straight stretch through the Raismes-Saint-Amand-Wallers forest.

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The Sabatier mining and forestry site Interpretation trail

An interpretation trail leads from the Maison de la forêt. At 103 metres, the Sabatier slag heap is the highest in the Valenciennes region.

From its summit, you can enjoy a view over the state-owned forest and the chain of slag heaps in northern France. To the south, in particular, you can see the Valenciennes conurbation.

In the middle of the forest, the Sabatier mining site bears witness to the traces left by human activity. It is also a site where new biodiversity is developing.

The Sabatier pit was mined from 1913 to 1980. It bears the name of a former Chairman of the Board of Directors of Compagnie des Mines d’Anzin. It produced 22.5 million tonnes of coal.

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The Goriaux pond An exceptional bird sanctuary

La mare à Goriaux (formerly known as mare à cochon, or pig pond) is a mining subsidence pond in the Valenciennes region, and has been a state biological reserve since 1982.

A major mining subsidence created three ponds as early as 1916, which eventually merged around 1930. The three ponds, close to each other, are: the Bassy pond, the Aubry pond and the Goriaux pond. Today, they form a single 120-hectare body of water.

The Lac d’Arenberg officially became the Mare à Goriaux in the 1960s.

The 2 km-long, 20 m-high slag heap (terril 171) bordering the southern part of the mare à Goriaux acts as a dike. Today, this flat slag heap offers a magnificent panoramic view of the entire site. It is also an ideal bird-watching spot.