Aire de Lens

Lens (Pas-de-Calais, France)

Lens is a town in the Bassin minier of Nord-Pas-de-Calais, marked by its industrial history and cultural redevelopment. A former working-class town, it has transformed brownfields and slag heaps into places for walks and remembrance. Today, Lens attracts visitors for its mining heritage as well as for its major cultural facilities. The town remains lively thanks to sport, local markets, and initiatives to enhance the landscape.

Heritage and history

The area is part of the Bassin minier listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, a testimony to the importance of coal mining. Industrial remains and renovated corons can still be seen. The workers' memory is present in the urban layout and in the discovery routes offered in town.

Culture and museums

The Louvre-Lens, opened in 2012, is the main cultural attraction: temporary galleries and thematic displays make it possible to see works from the Louvre museum in a different context. The site schedules exhibitions, conferences, and cultural activities aimed at local audiences and visitors.

Nature and landscapes

Former slag heaps and rehabilitated brownfields offer surprising walks, with views over the plain and walking and cycling routes. These spaces serve as viewpoints to observe the transformation of the mining landscape into natural areas.

Atmosphere and sport

The Stade Bollaert-Delelis, at the heart of local passions, enlivens the town regularly during RC Lens matches. The market and the cafés in the center maintain a friendly, popular atmosphere.

Not to be missed

• Louvre-Lens: temporary collections and cultural mediation.
• Stade Bollaert-Delelis: visit or match to feel the local atmosphere.
• Slag heap trails: hikes and viewpoints over the mining basin.
• Town center: traditional markets and shops.
• UNESCO sites of the Bassin minier: panels and routes explaining mining history.