Wingles sits on the northern edge of the coal basin, between Lens and La Bassée, where the mining towns give way to the canals and fields of the Weppes and the outskirts of Lille. The Cité du Pont is one of its miners' settlements, rows of brick houses built for the workers of the local pits, and it is part of the Nord-Pas de Calais Mining Basin World Heritage site. The name, the bridge settlement, hints at the importance of the waterways that crisscross this flat land.
The Canal de la Deûle runs just east of Wingles, connecting the coal basin with Lille and the canal network of northern France and Belgium. Barges once carried coal from the pits to factories and ports, and some still pass today, carrying gravel, grain and containers. The canal banks are now pleasant places for walks and cycling, with locks, bridges and wildlife.
Wingles was badly damaged during the First World War, when the front line ran nearby, and much of the town was rebuilt in the 1920s. The church and many houses date from this period of reconstruction, with the solid brickwork of that reconstruction era. The mining companies rebuilt the cités and pits quickly, and coal production resumed, continuing until the late twentieth century.
The riding here is flat and practical, with small roads connecting towns and villages, and busier roads leading to Lens, Lille and the motorways. The landscape is a mix of farmland, industrial sites and residential areas, with terrils and canals adding interest. Cobbles appear in places, and the roads can be slippery in wet weather. For a more scenic ride, follow the canal north towards Lille, or head west towards the hills of Artois.
Wingles, about a kilometre away, has fuel, shops and restaurants. Meurchin and Billy-Berclau are nearby villages with basic services. Lille, about half an hour away, is a vibrant city with a beautiful old town, excellent museums and a lively food scene. In Lille, look for a traditional estaminet, a cosy tavern serving northern dishes like carbonnade and welsh, with a wide choice of local beers.