Paysage et ensemble miniers de Drocourt and Paysage et ensemble miniers de Noeux-les-

Waypoint introductions and full write-ups

1. 1. Paysage et ensemble miniers de Drocourt

   Drocourt lies in the middle of the basin, between Lens and Douai, and its landscape tells the story of coal on a human scale. The pit-head frames and brick buildings of the old shafts, the spoil heaps sprouting trees and the long rows of miners' houses lie almost within sight of one another, and together they are listed as part of the UNESCO Mining Basin. Nearby is the old pumping house at the Sarteau shaft, a reminder that water was always the miners' enemy, and that huge machines had to keep the workings dry day and night.

   Read the complete Paysage et ensemble miniers de Drocourt write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Paysage et ensemble miniers de Drocourt is where the day begins. Next is Fosse n°5.

2. 2. Fosse n°5

   Douvrin, Billy-Berclau and Wingles form a little triangle of brick towns at the northern edge of the Lens coalfield, and the old pit known as Fosse n°5 sits among them. It is not a famous site and does not need to be: its value lies in being one of the many pieces that make up the mining landscape UNESCO listed in 2012, a network of pits, housing estates, slag heaps, railways and public buildings stretching for over a hundred kilometres across the north of France. Seen from the saddle, the area is a patchwork of cités, fields, canals and newer industrial estates, with the occasional terril breaking the skyline.

   Read the complete Fosse n°5 write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Fosse n°5 comes up about 21 km into the recorded legs. Next is Paysage et ensemble miniers de Noeux-les-.

3. 3. Paysage et ensemble miniers de Noeux-les-

   Noeux-les-Mines stands between Béthune and Lens, and its skyline is dominated by two things: tall slag heaps, the terrils, and the old pithead structures that survive from the coal years. It is the surviving heart of a mine, with its headframe, winding house, baths and offices, plus the housing, school and church that went with it. The UNESCO listing of 2012 includes the Noeux-les-Mines area among its many components, for the sake of the whole landscape rather than any one building.

   Read the complete Paysage et ensemble miniers de Noeux-les- write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   about 43 km into the recorded legs you reach Paysage et ensemble miniers de Noeux-les-. Next is back through Fosse n°5.

4. 4. back through Fosse n°5

   Return visit. Read the place description above.

   Read the complete Fosse n°5 write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   back through Fosse n°5, late in the day. Next is Paysage et ensemble miniers de Drocourt.

5. 5. Paysage et ensemble miniers de Drocourt

   Return visit. Read the place description above.

   Read the complete Paysage et ensemble miniers de Drocourt write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Back at Paysage et ensemble miniers de Drocourt. That is the ride.