Mines de Beffrois

Le blog touristique du bassin minier

Author: Luc Hermes

  • Esti’Vals Returns to Valenciennes from 3 to 16 August

    Esti’Vals Returns to Valenciennes from 3 to 16 August

    📅 From 3 to 16 August 2026
    📍 Place d’Armes, Valenciennes (59300)

    This summer, the Place d’Armes in Valenciennes transforms into a true festive space! Esti’Vals returns for two weeks of entertainment, concerts, activities for everyone and moments of sharing in the heart of the city.

    On the programme: music stages, family activities, food stalls, sports events and plenty of surprises to liven up the Valenciennes evenings. It’s the must-attend event of the summer in the City of Giants.

    Esti’Vals offers a rich and varied programme accessible to all audiences. Whether you’re a music lover, looking for activities for the kids or simply seeking a convivial summer atmosphere, you’ll find what you’re looking for on Place d’Armes.

    Come discover or rediscover Valenciennes under the summer sun!

    🔗 More info on valenciennes.fr

  • Exhibition Concrete, Marble, Flowers, Fire at Tank 1917 in Cambrai

    Exhibition Concrete, Marble, Flowers, Fire at Tank 1917 in Cambrai

    Until 13 August 2026, the Tank 1917 in Cambrai presents the exhibition Concrete, Marble, Flowers, Fire, an artistic reflection on materials and nature surrounding the Cambrai heritage.

    An original exhibition
    This exhibition at the Tank 1917, the former Art Deco swimming pool in Cambrai converted into a cultural space, invites you to discover works that blend raw materials and the beauty of nature. Concrete, marble, flowers and fire are the guiding threads of this artistic creation that questions our relationship with heritage and the environment.

    Tank 1917: a unique venue
    The Tank 1917 is an atypical cultural space: a former Art Deco swimming pool beautifully restored to host exhibitions, concerts and events throughout the year. An essential venue on the Cambrai cultural scene.

    Tank 1917, 2 rue de la piscine, Cambrai (59400). Open Tuesday to Sunday. More info at tank-cambrai.fr.

  • Kiosqu’Estival in Lievin: Free Concerts All Summer Long

    Kiosqu’Estival in Lievin: Free Concerts All Summer Long

    From 19 July to 9 August 2026, the city of Lievin presents Kiosqu’Estival, a series of free open-air concerts at the town’s bandstand. Every week, local and regional artists perform to animate the summer evenings of the mining basin.

    Concerts for all tastes
    Kiosqu’Estival offers a varied programme: French chanson, rock, jazz, blues and world music. Concerts take place in the late afternoon and evening, in a relaxed and family-friendly atmosphere. It’s the perfect opportunity to discover local talent while enjoying the beautiful summer evenings.

    Free and convivial
    All Kiosqu’Estival concerts are completely free. Bring your chair or blanket and settle on the bandstand lawn. Food and drinks available nearby to round off the evening.

    Bandstand of Lievin (62800). More info at mag.agglo-lenslievin.fr.

  • Guinguettes of Vimy: Summer Concerts and Activities in the Mining Basin

    Guinguettes of Vimy: Summer Concerts and Activities in the Mining Basin

    From Friday 31 July to Sunday 2 August 2026, the VimyVie association organizes the Guinguettes of Vimy, a festive weekend with concerts, wooden games and convivial activities in the heart of the mining basin.

    A weekend of celebration and music
    Friday 31 July from 6 PM to 9 PM, Saturday 2 August from 2 PM to 9:30 PM and Sunday 3 August from 2 PM to 9 PM: three days of free open-air concerts, wooden games, music and good vibes. The event takes place at 21Bis rue Adam de la Halle, facing the playground of Vimy.

    Organized by VimyVie
    The VimyVie association brings local life to the forefront with festive and convivial events. The Guinguettes of Vimy are an opportunity to gather with friends or family in a relaxed summer atmosphere, between concerts and activities.

    21Bis rue Adam de la Halle, Vimy (62580). Free admission. More info at mag.agglo-lenslievin.fr.

  • Night Market in Bruay-La-Buissiere: Local Producers and Artisans

    Night Market in Bruay-La-Buissiere: Local Producers and Artisans

    On Saturday 1 August 2026 from 6 PM to 10 PM, the Esplanade Mitterrand in Bruay-La-Buissiere hosts a night market that’s both gourmet and convivial. Local producers, artisans and entertainment await you for a summer evening in the mining basin.

    A 100% local market
    The night markets of Bruay-La-Buissiere have become a must-attend summer event. You’ll find fresh produce from local farmers, regional crafts and local specialities to enjoy on site. It’s the perfect opportunity to discover the flavours of the terroir in a relaxed and festive atmosphere.

    For the whole family
    Musical entertainment, gourmet stalls and a summer atmosphere are on the programme. A second night market is also scheduled for Saturday 22 August 2026.

    Esplanade Mitterrand, Bruay-La-Buissiere (62700). More info at bruaylabuissiere.fr.

  • Bivouac Festival 2026: The Eco & Slow Festival Returns to Olhain in the Mining Basin

    Bivouac Festival 2026: The Eco & Slow Festival Returns to Olhain in the Mining Basin

    From Friday 28 to Sunday 30 August 2026, the Bivouac Festival sets up its stages at the Parc departemental d’Olhain in Maisnil-les-Ruitz, right in the heart of the Pas-de-Calais mining basin. After a first edition praised for its exemplary carbon footprint, this eco & slow festival returns for a second season designed as a summer camp for adults.

    A bold and curious lineup
    The 2026 lineup features contrasting styles: British artist Baxter Dury (spoken-word pop) on Friday 28 August, followed by French electro with Cassius and You Man on Saturday 29. Discoveries include Arma Jackson, Nina Uzan, Blandine, Arthur Fu Bandini, and many regional and Belgian artists. Priority is given to local artists to reduce the lineup’s carbon footprint.

    A human-scale festival
    Capacity is capped at 2,000 people per day: you’ll bump into artists between sets, with no endless queues at the bar. Between stages, the park offers a 4-season luge, treetop adventure, suspended nets, yoga, and swimming. Sunday is a slow morning: breakfast in the park and nature activities.

    Practical info
    Prices: day pass 30 euros, weekend pass 55 euros, children under 14: 27 euros. Tent camping 20 euros for 2 nights with breakfast. Free shuttle from Bethune station. Arrive by bike = free camping and 2 free drinks!

    Parc d’Olhain, Maisnil-les-Ruitz (62620). More info at bivouacfestival.com.

  • Visible Storage Tour at the Louvre-Lens — Behind the Scenes of the Museum Revealed

    🖼️ Visible Storage Tour at the Louvre-Lens

    📅 From 29 March to 31 December 2026
    📍 Louvre-Lens, 99 Rue Valentin Looi, 62300 Lens

    From the Louvre-Lens reception hall, a staircase leads to the museum’s behind-the-scenes areas. The visible storage is a unique space where works are presented thematically, outside the usual display paths.

    It’s an exceptional opportunity to see how a museum conserves, studies and exhibits its collections. Paintings, sculptures, art objects: the reserves offer an unprecedented look at the richness of the Louvre’s collections.

    A visit that changes perspective — here, you don’t just look at the works, you also understand the invisible work that makes it possible to present them to the public.

    Practical info: Included in the Louvre-Lens visit. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm.

    🔗 More info on tourisme-lens.fr

  • Vimy Ridge Underground Tunnels Tours — In the Footsteps of Canadian Soldiers

    🪖 Vimy Ridge Underground Tunnels Tours

    📅 From 31 January to 30 September 2026
    📍 Canadian Memorial of Vimy — Vimy (62580, Pas-de-Calais)

    Canadian student guides take you to discover the preserved trench system of the First World War. These tours immerse you in the history of the soldiers who lived and fought in these underground tunnels over a hundred years ago.

    Vimy Ridge is one of the most impressive memorial sites in Pas-de-Calais. The preserved trenches, underground tunnels and the Canadian commemorative monument tell a poignant story of courage and sacrifice.

    A moving and educational visit, ideal for families, school groups and anyone who wishes to understand the history of the Great War on site.

    Practical info: Free guided tours, by reservation. The site is accessible from April to October for underground tunnel guided tours.

    🔗 More info on tourisme-lens.fr

  • Exhibition Land Art Mon Amour — Video Art and Photography at the Louvre-Lens

    🌿 Exhibition “Land Art, Mon Amour!” at the Louvre-Lens

    📅 From 5 June to 26 August 2026
    📍 Louvre-Lens, 99 Rue Valentin Looi, 62300 Lens

    This video and photography exhibition, conceived by choreographer Sarah Nouveau, explores the links between art and landscape. Land Art — art that uses nature as its canvas and material — takes on a sensitive and contemporary dimension here.

    Video and photographic works invite you to rediscover the landscape, to see nature as a space of creation and contemplation. The exhibition resonates particularly in the mining basin, where slag heaps and reclaimed landscapes have become works of art in their own right.

    An invitation to look differently at the territory around us — a territory transformed by human hands and then returned to nature.

    Practical info: Included in the Louvre-Lens visit. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm. Closed on Mondays.

    🔗 More info on tourisme-lens.fr

  • Exhibition Silence After Impact — War Ruins Photography at the Louvre-Lens

    📸 Exhibition “Silence After Impact” at the Louvre-Lens

    📅 From 2 May to 30 August 2026
    📍 Louvre-Lens, 99 Rue Valentin Looi, 62300 Lens

    The exhibition “Silence After Impact. War Ruins Photography” explores the photography of war ruins, from the First World War to the present day. Through a poignant visual journey, discover how photographers have captured the silence of landscapes devastated by conflict.

    From bombed-out Picardy to contemporary ruins, this exhibition questions our relationship with the memory of destroyed places. The images, often silent and striking, confront us with the aftermath — when the din of weapons has ceased and only the visual echo of destruction remains.

    A powerful reflection on war, memory and landscape, in a museum itself located in the heart of the mining basin, a territory marked by conflict.

    Practical info: Entry to the temporary exhibition pavilion. Check times and prices on the Louvre-Lens website.

    🔗 More info on tourisme-lens.fr

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