Mine de Wallers-Arenberg, Historical monument and industrial museum in Wallers, France
The Mine de Wallers-Arenberg is a former coal mine in Wallers in northern France that operated until the late 1980s. It features three main shafts, with Puits Arenberg No. 1 and No. 2 reaching depths of approximately 600 meters (1,970 feet). The site preserves extraction equipment, headframes, and buildings including a lamp room, shower facilities, and a large tailings dump visible on the landscape.
The mine was established around 1900 and quickly became one of the region's major coal extraction sites. It continued operating through World War II and was nationalized after the war, eventually becoming part of the Valenciennes mining group. The site received UNESCO World Heritage recognition in 2012 for its significance to the industrial history of northern France.
The name refers to the Arenberg family, who owned the mine and shaped the region's development. Visitors today explore the surrounding residential communities built for miners and their families, which still reflect early 20th-century housing styles and the culture centered on mining work.
The site is open for free exploration of outdoor areas Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm. Visitors interested in learning more can join guided tours led by former miners or local guides, which explain the mining process and working conditions without requiring entry into underground tunnels.
The mining village of Arenberg served as a film location for Claude Berri's 1992 film and now hosts a creative media space called Arenberg Creative Mine. This transformation demonstrates how former industrial sites have been adapted for contemporary arts and media production, giving new purpose to structures that once served extraction work.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
