Attractions and Places To See around Marles-Les-Mines - Top 20

The region is rich in mining heritage. A key site is the Chevalement du Vieux II, the preserved headframe of the former Saint-Émile pit, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers exhibitions on mining history. You can also visit the Musée de la Mine Jacques Deramaux and the Mémoire De La Mine in nearby Auchel for immersive experiences led by former miners.

Yes, you can visit Olhain Castle, a well-preserved 13th and 15th-century medieval castle surrounded by moats. Another option is the Bours Keep, a 14th-century tower that offers guided tours and insight into the region's noble history.

For panoramic views, head to The belvedere at Olhain Park, which is the highest point in Pas-de-Calais and offers breathtaking vistas of the Artois hills and the mining basin. Another excellent spot is Terril Number 5 of Lapugnoy, a redeveloped former slag heap providing views of the surrounding countryside and the Bois de Lapugnoy.

The area offers a variety of outdoor activities. You can explore numerous hiking trails, including those around redeveloped terrils and the Vallée Carreau Project. Cycling is also popular, with routes like the 'Chevalement du Vieux 2 – Camblain-Châtelain loop' for touring bicycles and longer road cycling routes. For more detailed route information, check out the Hiking around Marles-Les-Mines and Cycling around Marles-Les-Mines guides.

Yes, The belvedere at Olhain Park is a great family destination, featuring a slide, zip line, and a lush green park in addition to its panoramic views. Many of the redeveloped green spaces and terrils also offer walking paths and playgrounds suitable for families. Olhain Castle also welcomes visitors and offers guided tours.

You can find several hiking opportunities, particularly around the redeveloped mining spoil tips (terrils). The 'Vallée Carreau Park – Terril d'Auchel loop' is an easy option, while the 'Terril Number 5 of Lapugnoy – Lapunoy lake loop' offers a moderate challenge. These trails allow you to experience the unique landscape of the former mining basin. For more routes, see the Hiking around Marles-Les-Mines guide.

The Vallée Carreau Project is a recently inaugurated major tourist center spanning approximately one hundred hectares across Marles, Auchel, and Lozinghem. It involved the 'renaturation' of former mining sites, transforming them into green slag heaps (terrils), wildlife observation points, and wetlands, offering new spaces for recreation and nature appreciation.

Yes, Marles-les-Mines has a strong connection to Polish immigration due to the mining industry. You can explore this heritage through sites like the Saint Stanislas church and the Cité du Rond-Point. Tours highlighting Polish traditions, cuisine, and living areas are available to delve deeper into this cultural aspect of the region.

The Église Saint-Vaast in Marles-les-Mines features a choir dating from the 16th century, with the rest of the church completed in 1869 in an ogival style. It also preserves the tombstone of Jean Georges de Beaulaincourt, Count of Marles, from 1699.

Beyond the industrial architecture of the mining sites, you can observe medieval styles at Olhain Castle and Bours Keep. In nearby Béthune, the facades of the main square showcase a blend of eclecticism, Art Deco, and neo-regionalism, reflecting its post-WWI reconstruction.

At the entrance of the town's college, you can find a contemporary ceramic sculpture from 1977 by local artist Édouard Pignon. It depicts cockfighting, which is a traditional aspect of the region's culture.

The Cité des Électriciens, located in nearby Bruay-la-Buissière, is an emblematic district of the mining basin. It serves as a center for interpreting mining landscapes, urban planning, and housing, and also features educational and artistic gardens along with artist residences.