Mines de Beffrois

Le blog touristique du bassin minier

Author: f.deschodt@gmail.com

  • Plein Air Festival 2026 in Douai: Feder, Cerrone and Acid Arab by the lake on 27-28 June

    📅 Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 June 2026
    📍 Parc Jacques Vernier, Douai

    Douai's great electro festival returns for an unmissable 2026 edition at Parc Jacques Vernier, by the lake. The Festival Plein Air shifts its calendar — no more late summer, welcome to the end of June with its long evenings. New timing: Saturday from 4 PM to 2 AM.

    Saturday 27 June: Feder, Benny Benassi, Boys Noize and Roland Cristal take to the decks for a night of open-air electronic music.
    Sunday 28 June: Bon Entendeur, Cerrone, Acid Arab and DJ Furax take over for a final groovy day.

    Shuttles are organised from Arras, Béthune, Cambrai, Lens and Valenciennes for festival-goers from across the mining basin. Great news for all electronic music fans in the region.

    An event not to be missed for two days of music and conviviality in the open air!

    Tickets and information at festivalpleinair.fr.

  • Night of Museums in Cambrai: torchlight visits at the Fine Arts Museum on 23 May

    📅 Saturday evening, 23 May 2026
    📍 Musée des Beaux-Arts de Cambrai, Place du Beffroi, Cambrai

    For the European Night of Museums, the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Cambrai offers an original and intimate experience: nocturnal tours by torchlight. Armed with their torch, visitors roam the darkened galleries, rediscovering the collections in a new light — literally and figuratively.

    The museum holds an exceptional collection of paintings and sculptures from the Middle Ages to the present day. One torch and wide-open eyes are all it takes to turn the visit into an adventure, revealing details usually lost in daylight.

    The Night of Museums is the perfect moment to introduce children to the world of art in a playful and unusual setting. Admission is free for the evening in all participating museums across France.

    Don't miss this unique evening in Cambrai! More information at villedecambrai.com.

  • Les Métaphonies 2026 in Oignies: a free musical and acrobatic festival on 13 June at the 9-9bis

    📅 Saturday 13 June 2026, from 2 PM to midnight
    📍 9-9bis, Rue Alain Bashung, 62590 Oignies — Free entry

    Every year, the 9-9bis mining site in Oignies transforms into a great popular festival: the Métaphonies 2026 return on 13 June. This year's theme is construction: “our big end-of-year fair in work mode”, say the organisers. Step out of your comfort zone!

    On the Métaphone stage: Papooz with tropical groove, Ditter with pop punk (with the Arpège choir of Oignies as a surprise guest!) and Maddy Street with sunny pop. In the garden: Marta on techno, M.A.O. Cormontreuil on indie dance, and Louis Victor on pop.

    The show “78 Tours” features two acrobats and a musician around a traditional circus wheel of death (4 PM and 7:30 PM). The disco parade “Stayin' Alive” rolls through at 2 PM and 5:30 PM. Secret tours combining music and mining heritage depart at 3 PM, 5 PM and 7 PM.

    For younger visitors: percussion workshops, fairground games, unusual bicycles. For food lovers: bar, food trucks and café throughout the day.

    Full programme at 9-9bis.com.

  • Terres en Fête 2026 in Tilloy-les-Mofflaines: the largest agricultural fair north of Paris, 5-7 June

    📅 Friday 5 to Sunday 7 June 2026, 9 AM to 7 PM
    📍 Exhibition park, Tilloy-les-Mofflaines (5 km from Arras)

    The 16th edition of Terres en Fête arrives at Tilloy-les-Mofflaines for three days celebrating the agricultural world. With over 85,000 visitors expected, 500 exhibitors, 800 animals and 80 local producers and craftspeople, it is the largest agricultural fair north of Paris.

    On the programme: agricultural equipment demonstrations, animal competitions, ploughing contests, children's activities and presentations of farming careers. A true journey into the heart of rural life, meeting the farmers, breeders and craftspeople who keep our countryside alive.

    The Arras Urban Community is running free shuttle services from Arras to the show — a great initiative for a stress-free family outing.

    An unmissable event for residents of the mining basin and Artois region!

    All information at terres-en-fete.com.

  • Night of Museums at Arkéos Douai: free Gallo-Roman archaeological evening on 30 May

    📅 Saturday evening, 30 May 2026
    📍 Musée-Parc Arkéos, Douai

    For the European Night of Museums 2026, the Arkéos archaeological museum in Douai opens its doors in the evening with a special programme. A rare opportunity to (re)discover the archaeological collections and the temporary exhibition “Se mettre au vert — Living in the Countryside of Roman Gaul” in a nocturnal and festive atmosphere.

    The museum's green park, usually visited in full daylight, takes on a completely different dimension after dark. It's the perfect invitation to experience the museum in a new way — between discovering Gallo-Roman regional heritage and enjoying a nocturnal stroll.

    Every year, the European Night of Museums offers free access to exceptional cultural venues in a unique atmosphere. A convivial and educational evening for the whole family in the heart of the Douaisis.

    Information and times at arkeos.fr/agenda.

  • Nature Sports Month 2026 in Pas-de-Calais: over 70 free activities until 11 June

    📅 Friday 8 May to Thursday 11 June 2026
    📍 Throughout the Pas-de-Calais département (including the mining basin)

    The Pas-de-Calais Département launches its 2026 edition of the Nature Sports Month, a rich programme of over 70 free activities spread across the entire territory. Hiking, cycling, wildlife discovery, water sports… something for everyone, at every level.

    In the mining basin, these outings offer a different way to discover the terrils and former mining towns. Qualified guides lead participants along paths that wind between the twin slag heaps of Loos-en-Gohelle, through the Scarpe valley landscapes or along the Deûle canal. On the slopes of the terrils, rare botanical species such as globularia, viper's bugloss and oregano have made their home, while birds such as the little ringed plover and kingfisher can be regularly spotted.

    These outings welcome sports enthusiasts, nature lovers, families, school groups and people with disabilities. An inclusive programme to (re)discover the natural heritage of Pas-de-Calais in all its forms.

    Consult the full calendar and register at pasdecalais.fr.

  • “Se mettre au vert” at Arkéos: dive into Gallo-Roman countryside in Douai until 5 July

    📅 Until Sunday 5 July 2026
    📍 Musée-Parc Arkéos, Douai

    The Arkéos archaeological museum in Douai is currently presenting an original and family-friendly temporary exhibition: Se mettre au vert — Living in the Countryside of Roman Gaul.

    Imagine the life of a Gallo-Roman peasant 2,000 years ago in what would become northern France. What did they grow? What did their home look like? The exhibition answers these questions through remarkable archaeological objects, evocative illustrations and fun interactive digital displays. Hands-on activities let younger visitors actively participate in the discovery.

    Created in-house by Arkéos, the exhibition brings together exceptional pieces from local and regional excavations, bearing witness to a rich and largely unknown rural daily life. A journey through time in the green park of the museum, in the heart of the Douaisis.

    Special activities are planned for 16-17 May and during the Night of Museums on 30 May 2026. Perfect for a family outing throughout spring and early summer.

    Find all details at arkeos.fr.

  • The Thousand and One Night of Museums at Louvre-Lens: an enchanting Saturday evening in Lens

    📅 Saturday, 23 May 2026, from 8 PM to midnight
    📍 Louvre-Lens, 99 rue Paul Bert, Lens

    For the European Night of Museums, the Louvre-Lens invites you to an extraordinary evening: the Thousand and One Night of Museums. A nocturnal and festive programme inspired by the current exhibition Beyond the Thousand and One Nights: Histories of Orientalisms.

    The evening programme promises dancing, listening, dreaming, transformation and creation. Omar Ek, an electro-SWANA DJ, will build sonic bridges between the music of East and West, accompanying visitors throughout the museum. Creative workshops and themed guided tours of the Galerie du Temps are also on offer.

    Not to be missed: behind-the-scenes tours of the museum's reserves, scheduled at 6 PM, 7 PM, 8 PM and 9 PM. These visits offer a rare glimpse into how the collections are conserved and studied, including works on loan from the Comédie-Française.

    A free, unforgettable evening in an oriental and festive atmosphere at the heart of the Louvre-Lens. Find all details at louvrelens.fr.

  • The Comédie-Française reveals its treasures at Louvre-Lens: a free exhibition until December 2026

    📅 14 February to 7 December 2026 — free admission
    📍 Louvre-Lens, Mezzanine Level (-1), 99 rue Paul Bert, Lens

    The Louvre-Lens currently hosts a rare and entirely free exhibition dedicated to the Comédie-Française, the oldest still-active theatre company in France.

    Founded in 1680 by Louis XIV, the “House of Molière” has amassed an exceptional artistic heritage over the centuries, often unknown to the general public. The Louvre-Lens brings this heritage to light, united outside Paris for the very first time.

    Around twenty paintings and sculptures trace the birth and evolution of the Comédie-Française's collections through the figures who shaped its history: companies, playwrights, actors and actresses. The scenography is directly inspired by the codes of theatre for a truly immersive experience.

    A complementary cultural programme includes guided tours of the museum's reserves during the Night of Museums on 23 May 2026. Free admission — a wonderful opportunity to discover French theatre history with family or friends.

    More information: louvrelens.fr

  • The Legend of Monte-Cristo Musical arrives in Douai

    The Monte-Cristo musical legend arrives in Douai this season for an unforgettable show at the theatre.

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