Mines de Beffrois

Le blog touristique du bassin minier

Author: Luc Hermes

  • Storytelling Weeks at the Louvre-Lens Park Festival

    📅 From July 27 to August 9, 2026
    📍 Parc du Louvre-Lens, Lens

    The Louvre-Lens Park Festival presents its “Storytelling Weeks” this summer, a rich program of shows and experiences for the whole family. On the agenda: Stories from Around the World, ongoing creative workshops, and interactive tales.

    Each day, visitors can discover traditional tales told by passionate storytellers, take part in creative workshops, and listen to interactive stories. Both children and adults will find something to enjoy, with outdoor performances and sharing moments around reading.

    This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy the magnificent Louvre-Lens Park while being carried away by the magic of stories. An unmissable summer event for families in the mining basin!

    🔗 More info: Lens Tourist Office

  • HGC Quarter Tour in Loos-en-Gohelle — Discovering Local Heritage

    📅 Tuesday 29 July 2026, 2 PM to 6 PM
    📍 Loos-en-Gohelle

    On Tuesday 29 July, the town of Loos-en-Gohelle is organising the HGC Quarter Tour, an event to discover local heritage and community life. From 2 PM to 6 PM, explore the neighbourhoods of this iconic mining basin town, at the foot of the twin slag heaps.

    Loos-en-Gohelle is one of the most committed municipalities in promoting mining heritage. Its twin slag heaps, listed as UNESCO World Heritage, offer an exceptional panoramic view over the entire region. The HGC Quarter Tour allows you to discover the town differently, meeting its residents and exploring its neighbourhoods.

    A friendly afternoon to get to know this pioneering town in ecological and heritage transition in the mining basin.

    👉 More info on the Loos-en-Gohelle website

  • Cyanotype Workshop at 9-9bis — Solar Photographic Creation for Everyone

    📅 Sunday 2 August 2026
    📍 9-9bis, rue Christophe Colomb, Oignies

    On Sunday 2 August, 9-9bis offers an introduction to cyanotype workshop, an ancestral photographic technique that uses sunlight to create captivating blue images. Two sessions are available: one for adults at 10 AM and one for children aged 6-12 at 4:30 PM.

    Cyanotype is one of the earliest photographic techniques, invented in 1842. Simple and magical, it allows you to create unique works by exposing objects or negatives on sun-sensitised paper. A creative and educational workshop, perfect for a family Sunday in the heart of the mining basin.

    The workshop is part of the 9-9bis summer programme, offering visits, concerts and activities all summer long at this unique mining site.

    👉 More info and booking on the 9-9bis website

  • Les Esti’Vals in Valenciennes — Summer Festival from 3 to 16 August

    📅 From 3 to 16 August 2026
    📍 Valenciennes

    Les Esti’Vals are back from 3 to 16 August in Valenciennes! This summer festival offers two weeks of concerts, shows, activities and discoveries throughout the city. The perfect opportunity to enjoy summer in the Valenciennes area.

    On the programme: open-air concerts, family activities, cultural discoveries and moments of conviviality. The festival takes over the neighbourhoods, squares and green spaces of Valenciennes to offer a rich and varied programme.

    Les Esti’Vals have become a must-attend summer event in Valenciennes, attracting thousands of visitors each year. An event to enjoy with family or friends in one of the finest cities in the North!

    👉 More info on the City of Valenciennes website

  • Concert by Maxime Mouquet at 9-9bis — Music in the Exhibition

    📅 Sunday 2 August 2026 at 5:30 PM
    📍 9-9bis, rue Christophe Colomb, Oignies

    On Sunday 2 August at 5:30 PM, 9-9bis hosts a concert by Maxime Mouquet as part of the current exhibition. A unique musical moment in a place steeped in history, at the heart of the UNESCO-listed remarkable mining site.

    The artist offers a musical performance in resonance with the exhibited works, creating an unprecedented dialogue between sonic art and industrial heritage. Admission is free — a cultural rendezvous not to be missed this summer in the mining basin.

    The 9-9bis, a former pit head converted into a cultural venue, offers an exceptional setting for this type of event. Between slag heaps and industrial architecture, music takes on a whole new dimension.

    👉 More info on the 9-9bis website

  • Ernest Delille, a Genius Architect — Meet & Drink at 9-9bis in Oignies

    📅 Friday 31 July 2026 at 6:30 PM
    📍 9-9bis, rue Christophe Colomb, Oignies

    On Friday 31 July, 9-9bis invites you to a meet & drink event dedicated to Ernest Delille, a genius architect of the mining basin. Accompanied by Rémi Godderis, architect at Maisons &Cités, this evening offers a chance to discover the remarkable work of this architect who shaped the mining landscape.

    Ernest Delille left a lasting mark on the architecture of the mining basin. His garden cities, churches and public buildings testify to unique expertise. This conference-apero is an opportunity to understand how a visionary architect designed the daily life of miners and their families.

    The event takes place as part of the 9-9bis summer programme, a UNESCO-listed remarkable mining site. An evening combining heritage, culture and conviviality.

    👉 More info on the 9-9bis website

  • Douai in 60 Minutes — Flash tours of the City of the Gayant Giants

    📅 From 25 July to 29 August 2026
    📍 Douaisis Tourisme, 70 place d’Armes, Douai

    Discover Douai in 60 minutes! This summer, the tourist office offers flash tours of the city, giving you all the essentials in record time. Belfry, Spanish houses, Chartreuse Museum… the guides will tell you everything about the City of the Gayant Giants.

    These flash tours are perfect for those who want to discover Douai without spending half a day. In 60 minutes, you’ll explore the must-sees of Douai’s heritage, from medieval streets to Flemish facades. An ideal format for curious visitors in a hurry!

    Tours run regularly throughout the summer, starting from the tourist office. Don’t forget to book your slot.

    👉 More info on the City of Douai website

  • Sophr’Arbre at Parc Charles Fenain — Concerts under the trees in Douai

    📅 Friday 25 July 2026
    📍 Parc Charles Fenain, Douai

    This Friday 25 July, Parc Charles Fenain in Douai hosts Sophr’Arbre, a musical and friendly outdoor event. On the programme: concerts, a relaxed atmosphere and artistic discovery in an exceptional green setting.

    Sophr’Arbre offers varied musical performances under the century-old trees of Parc Charles Fenain. It’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy a summer evening with family or friends, in one of Douai’s most beloved green spaces.

    Parc Charles Fenain is an iconic location in the Douai area, offering a natural setting ideal for relaxation and discovery. Accessible to all, this event is part of the city’s summer programme.

    👉 More info on the City of Douai website

  • Summer Mondays at the Sea — Coastal Excursions from Bruay-La-Buissière

    Summer Mondays at the Sea — Coastal Excursions from Bruay-La-Buissiere

    📅 From 6 July to 24 August 2026 (Mondays)
    📍 Departure from Bruay-La-Buissiere

    Summer Mondays at the Sea offer organised excursions to the Opal Coast from Bruay-La-Buissiere. A practical way to combine coastal discovery with local life in the mining basin!

    Every Monday in summer, a bus leaves Bruay-La-Buissiere to take you to the finest beaches in Pas-de-Calais. It’s the perfect opportunity to breathe in the sea air, discover the spectacular landscapes of the Opal Coast, and enjoy a full day by the sea.

    These excursions are organised by the Bruay-La-Buissiere town hall and are accessible to all budgets. An ideal way to vary your holiday pleasures, simply and easily.

    Source: Town of Bruay-La-Buissiere

  • Urban Beach in Bruay-La-Buissière — Family Summer from 24 July to 9 August

    Urban Beach in Bruay-La-Buissiere — Family Summer from 24 July to 9 August

    📅 From 24 July to 9 August 2026
    📍 Bruay-La-Buissiere (location confirmed on the town hall website)

    The Bruay-La-Buissiere urban beach is back for summer! Sandpits, water games, inflatable structures and activities for children: everything you need for a great holiday without leaving the mining basin.

    Every year, the town of Bruay-La-Buissiere transforms a green space into a temporary seaside resort. Children can enjoy the water games while parents relax on deck chairs. Sports and leisure activities are organised throughout the day.

    It’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy the sunny days in a festive, family atmosphere. The urban beach is free and open to all. Don’t forget your sunscreen and swimsuit!

    Source: Town of Bruay-La-Buissiere

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