Great news for all cyclists in the mining area! This summer 2026, the area will host the largest bow tie network (RPN) in the Nord department: nearly 1,500 km of marked routes to explore the region by bike.

What is a network of bow ties? It’s a very simple marking system: each intersection on the network has a number. To compose your route, simply string together the numbers you want to reach. No need for a complicated map, no need for an application: you choose your circuit in a few numbers and you pedal!

This network will cover the entire mining basin, from Valenciennes to Lens, via Douai. More than 5,000 signs will be deployed to guide cyclists through slag heaps, parks, villages and industrial landscapes transformed into green spaces.

Pending full opening, part of the network is already available in the Scheldt plains. Free maps can be collected from the tourist offices of Valenciennes, Porte du Hainaut, Douaisis, Cœur d’Ostrevent and Pévèle-Carembault.

Our mining area is becoming a real cycling destination. With its unique landscapes – slag heaps, settlements, canals – it deserves to be explored on two wheels. Prepare your bikes: this summer is going to be exceptional!

📍 Mining Basin — from Valenciennes to Lens (via Douai)

📅 Full opening planned for summer 2026

🔗 More information: info.lenord.fr