The Nord-Pas-de-Calais mining basin is a large historic mining area inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. This site shows the coal mining activity that shaped the region for centuries. Visitors can see the characteristic mining heaps and understand how mining changed the lives and landscape of this French region.

The Historic Mining Centre of Lewarde is a museum housed in a former coal pit that tells the story of miners who worked in northern France. It offers visitors a look at daily life underground and shows how important mining was to the region during the industrial era.

The Centre 9-9bis in Oignies is a former coal mining site whose historical structures and equipment have been transformed into an interpretation centre. This location documents the coal mining heritage of northern France and reveals how miners worked and lived. Visitors can see the mine head frames, machinery, and industrial buildings that were essential to extracting coal from deep underground. The centre provides a window into an important period of French industrial history.

Arenberg La Porte du Hainaut is a former coal mine near Wallers where visitors can descend into underground tunnels and experience what mining work was like. The site includes a museum that explains the history of coal extraction in this region and its importance to the French economy.

The Carreau Wendel in Petite-Rosselle is a historical mining site in Moselle. The location displays industrial architecture from the coal mining era with its distinctive buildings and spoil heaps that shape the landscape. Visitors can trace the mining heritage of this region and understand how work in the mines shaped the daily lives of local people.

Puits Couriot is an old mine shaft in Saint-Étienne that has been turned into a museum. Visitors can explore a thousand years of mining history and discover how miners worked in this region. The museum displays the machines, tools, and daily life of workers underground. You can descend into the shafts and understand the harsh conditions under which minerals were extracted. This mine was a center of economic activity for Saint-Étienne for many centuries.

The Blegny Mine is an accessible coal mine located in the border area of Lorraine and part of the region's important coal basin. Visitors can explore the galleries and gain insight into the mining history of this area in France.

The Mine Témoin d'Alès is a former coal mine in the Gard region that now operates as a museum. It shows how miners lived and worked underground. Visitors can descend into the shafts and experience the conditions that workers faced daily. The museum preserves memories of the industrial past of this French region.

The Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines Silver Mine is a historic mining site in Alsace that reflects centuries of silver extraction in the region. Visitors can explore the underground galleries and see mineral collections that tell the story of medieval and Renaissance mining operations. This mine offers a window into the economic importance of silver mining in early modern Europe and how miners worked deep below the surface.

The Vallauria Mine is a former copper and manganese mine in the Alpes-Maritimes. Its historic tunnels tell the story of mining activity in this alpine region. This mine demonstrates France's industrial past and allows visitors to understand the techniques and methods of ore extraction from earlier periods.

The Forges de Buffon in Montbard were a major center of royal metalworking in France. This historical site shows how iron and metal were produced on a large scale. Visitors can see the old workshops, furnaces, and machinery that demonstrate the technical advances of the 18th century. The location tells the story of French metal industry and its development.

The Brocas Forges are old metalworking facilities in the Landes region that show how iron was once produced there. This site reveals the story of metal working in southwestern France and was an important industrial center for the area. Visitors can still see the structures where metal was worked and understand how production took place.

Le Creusot is a center of French heavy industry with factory facilities and a museum dedicated to the Schneider company. The site shows how steel production and machinery manufacturing shaped the region. Visitors can explore the old production facilities and learn about the workers and engineers who worked there.

The Cité du Design is a former weapons factory in Saint-Étienne that now serves as a contemporary design center and museum. This building reflects the industrial history of the city and its transformation from a place of weapons production to a center of creative culture. Visitors can explore the factory's architecture and learn about France's industrial past.

The Manufacture of the Gobelins is a famous royal tapestry factory in Paris that has remained in continuous operation for centuries. It demonstrates French craftsmanship and industrial heritage through its workshops, where artisans still produce tapestries using traditional methods today. Visitors can see how this demanding work is done by hand and how the factory preserves and carries forward the legacy of French artistic skill.

The Familistère de Guise is a workers' housing complex built in the 19th century in the Aisne region by industrialist Jean-Baptiste Godin. This settlement reflects Godin's vision for providing proper housing and care for his factory workers. The buildings are arranged around a central courtyard that served as the heart of community life. Hundreds of workers and their families made their homes here together. The complex reveals Godin's thinking about how to organize society and improve living conditions for working people.

The Cité du Train is a major railway museum located in Mulhouse, a city with deep industrial roots. It tells the story of rail transport in France and its impact on the country's economic life. Visitors can explore trains and locomotives from different periods, each one showing how railways shaped the nation's development and connected its regions.

The EDF thermal power plant in Cordemais is a former electrical generation facility in Loire-Atlantique that reflects France's energy production during the 20th century. The site shows how France built its electrical supply system. The plant documents the technical developments and industrial methods that the country used during its growth period. Visitors can understand how such factories played an important role in the region's daily life.

The Barrage de Génissiat is a hydroelectric dam built on the Rhône River in the Ain region. This 20th-century structure shows how engineers learned to harness rivers for power generation. The dam shapes the landscape and tells the story of France's industrial past. Visitors can explore this engineering achievement and learn how water power transformed the country's economy.

The Tignes Dam is a hydroelectric facility built in the Alps in the Savoie region. This dam was constructed to generate electricity and demonstrates France's industrial history of water power development. The dam shapes the landscape and is part of France's industrial heritage, offering visitors insight into the country's economic and technical development.

The Cité Internationale de la Dentelle in Calais tells the story of lace-making history and techniques. This museum reveals how the city became a world center for lace production. Visitors can learn about the craft methods that have been used in the region for generations.

The Manufacture d'Armes de Châtellerault is a former arms factory in the Vienne region that now serves as a cultural site and industrial museum. This factory displays the history of French weapons manufacturing and industrial development. Visitors can see production facilities and techniques from different periods and understand how this operation shaped the economic development of the region.

The Saline Royale d'Arc-et-Senans is a royal salt manufacturing facility from the 18th century located in the Doubs department. This site was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site and demonstrates how salt production operated during an important period of French industrial history. The buildings are arranged according to a specific geometric layout that reflects the organization of labor and production processes. Visitors can explore the structures and learn about the techniques used to extract and process salt.

The Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire is a major shipyard that has built ships and ocean liners for many years. This facility represents an important part of French industrial history and demonstrates the country's role in shipbuilding. Visitors can see where large vessels were constructed and gain insight into the skilled work involved in creating these maritime giants.

The Rance tidal power plant opened in 1966 as the first of its kind in the world. This factory generates electricity by harnessing the power of ocean tides. The structure stretches across the river like a dam and operates on a principle that uses rising and falling water levels. Visitors can see the machines and learn how water is converted into energy. The plant represents a solution from the past for power generation that is gaining relevance again today.

The submarine base of Saint-Nazaire is a historic military and industrial installation in the Loire-Atlantique. During World War II, this location served as a submarine base for the German Navy. The massive structure with its characteristic concrete bunkers bears witness to the industrial and military history of this French port city. Today, visitors can walk through the preserved structures and learn more about this period.

The Port of Marseille-Fos is one of the major harbors of the Mediterranean in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. This port reflects France's economic and technical history. The port facilities show how trade and industry have shaped this place over the centuries. Visitors can see the large docks, loading cranes, and warehouses that bear witness to the port's importance to the French economy. The port remains active today and offers insights into modern logistics and shipping operations.

The former LU factories in Nantes represent an important part of French industrial history. This site was the home of biscuit production for many decades, creating products known across Europe. Today the site serves as a space for culture and leisure activities, where visitors can explore the factory's history and enjoy art exhibitions, concerts, and cultural events. The location shows how industrial spaces can be transformed into vibrant gathering places for the community.

The U4 Parc du Haut-Fourneau in Uckange is a former blast furnace in the Moselle region. This site shows France's industrial past and the steel production that shaped this area. The old furnace has been converted into an industrial park and museum where visitors can explore the history of metal processing. This place helps people understand France's economic and technical development.