Regional Park Scarpe-Escaut

Written By Gregory Lefevre

The bassin minier UNESCO world heritage region

Outdoors, walking, and cycling guideinscribed as a unesco "living cultural landscape," the former coal-mining heartland of nord-pas-de-calais has undergone an incredible green transformation. once an industrial zone, its iconic terrils (giant coal slag heaps), old railway tracks, and mining subsidence lakes have been reclaimed by nature. today, it serves as a massive open-air playground for hikers, trail runners, gravel riders, and cyclists, offering unique elevation gains and lush wildlife sanctuaries.the parc naturel régional scarpe-escaut and the unesco bassin minier heavily overlap. in fact, the eastern section of the unesco mining basin sits directly inside the borders of the scarpe-escaut nature park. it is the exact same geographical area where nature and industrial heritage blend together. when you visit sites like chabaud-latour in condé-sur-l'escaut or the mare à goriaux (the famous mining lake sitting right next to the wallers-arenberg mine shaft), you are simultaneously standing in a unesco world heritage site and a protected regional nature park. the park handles a huge portion of the trail management, wildlife preservation, and biking routes that connect these old mining landmarks.

Key outdoor rec & walking trails

La chaîne des terrils (the chain of slag heaps): this unique network allows hikers to climb the highest slag heaps in europe. the twin terrils of loos-en-gohelle (terrils 11/19) rise 180 meters high and offer an intense hiking challenge with sweeping, 360-degree panoramic views of the entire region at the summit.

Le sentier des terrils (gr 412 long distance trail): named in honor of the patron saint of miners (saint barbara, celebrated on december 4th), this iconic long-distance walking trail threads together key monuments across the entire region. hikers wander past historic mining cottages (corons), across reclaimed industrial forests, and over active green corridors.

Chabaud-latour recreation base (condé-sur-l'escaut): a spectacular wetland area created by ground subsidence from old mine shafts. this park features tranquil lakeside walking paths, bird-watching observatories (protected under the international ramsar wetland convention), and historic headframes towering over the water.

Mare à goriaux & arenberg mining site (wallers): the mare à goriaux is a vast, protected biological lake formed by mining subsidence, right on the edge of the raismes-saint-amand-wallers national forest. it is famous for its easy loop trail and incredible bird life. just down the road sits the spectacular arenberg mining site, an impeccably preserved unesco site with majestic headframes that now serves as a creative cultural hub and a major starting point for cycling through the old mine paths.

Parc des îles (drocourt / hénin-beaumont): a massive urban green lung built over a former coking plant. it is a major family outdoor destination equipped with permanent orienteering courses, nordic walking tracks, health routes, and dedicated zones for kite flying.

Maison du parc naturel régional scarpe-escaut (saint-amand-les-eaux):  if you want to pick up detailed topographic maps, physical trail guides, and get expert recommendations for hidden singletracks or cycling paths, make a stop at the park headquarters. it provides wonderful information about the local environment and the exact routes that thread the area's rich mining heritage together.

Cycling & riding paths

La véloroute du bassin minier: this dedicated cycling route cuts directly across the heart of the mining basin. it repurposes a patchwork of minor countryside roads and former cavaliers (the historic mineral railways once used to haul coal trains). it is roughly 60% traffic-free off-road paths, making it highly safe and scenic for touring cyclists.

L'un'escaut cycling loop: centered near valenciennes and condé-sur-l'escaut, this pleasant loop lets cyclists ride effortlessly alongside the tranquil banks of the escaut river canal, moving smoothly from one unesco mining monument to the next.

Mountain & gravel biking on the terrils: for adventurous riders, the steep, loose-shale terrain of the terrils provides excellent technical mountain biking trails. sites like the ledoux slag heap near the scarpe-escaut regional nature park offer steep singletracks and challenging climbs that test your endurance.

Essential outdoor tips

terrain note: while the routes are generally flat along the canals and old railways, climbing the terrilsrequires sturdy hiking shoes or good bike tires. the black shale soil retains heat on sunny days and can become slick after rain.

Gregory Lefevre
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