Pecquencourt: Mining History and Nature

Pecquencourt brings together traces of its mining history and a variety of natural and recreational destinations. During your stay, you can focus on the area’s history, compare the distinctive layouts of the miners’ settlements, or make the most of the trails and waterways.

Mining history and the town’s earlier history

Pecquencourt developed around Anchin Abbey, founded in 1079. This early historical connection sits alongside the more recent traces of mining, which can be seen along routes and in the miners’ settlements. Exploring the town through its history therefore means encountering not just a single building, but several layers of history.

The Chemin des Galibots is a 35-kilometre circular route through the area’s mining heritage. It follows a former railway line that connected mine shafts, spoil heaps and miners’ settlements. The route therefore offers a way to understand the connections between the mining sites and the places where the miners lived. It is especially interesting if you would like to explore this history beyond a single historical landmark.

The Church of Saint-Gilles also adds to the historical picture: its oldest surviving core is a chapel dating from the 13th century. The Giant of Pecquencourt depicts Féry de Guyon, a historical figure from the 16th century. The abbey, chapel and local figure thus point to different periods and forms of cultural heritage.

Miners’ settlements: two approaches to design

In the Lemay miners’ settlement, the landscape is defined by straight streets, rows of adjoining houses and large gardens at the rear. This layout is typical of the “corons.” The Lemay settlement in Pecquencourt is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you are interested in the built heritage of mining, Lemay offers both a specific type of settlement and an important connection to cultural heritage.

Sainte-Marie follows a different concept: the garden city. Its features include winding streets, more spacious open areas and lush vegetation. Together, Lemay and Sainte-Marie show two distinct approaches to designing miners’ settlements: on one hand, the straight arrangement of houses and gardens; on the other, more winding streets and more generous open spaces. This comparison helps show that these settlements are not interchangeable parts of mining history.

Nature, trails and waterways

The Terril des Argales is a major destination for outdoor sports. It has a sandy beach, water sports facilities and hiking trails. At the same time, part of the spoil heap is designated as a sensitive natural area (Espace Naturel Sensible, ENS) and is managed by the Nord Department. This protected-area designation applies to part of the spoil heap, not its entire area. For specific activities at the site, it is advisable to check the current conditions.

The Chemin des Galibots offers another option: a longer circular route focused on mining history. Its 35-kilometre length makes it easy to plan how much time to allow; the former railway line also explains why the route connects mine shafts, spoil heaps and settlements. Its focus therefore differs from that of the hiking trails at the spoil heap, which are part of the area’s nature and outdoor sports offerings.

The ponds also offer different ways to spend time outdoors. The Étang des Éclusettes has two ponds available for fishing. The Étang d’Anchin is suitable for walking and fishing and is notable for its biodiversity. If fishing is your priority, Pecquencourt offers two different bodies of water; the Étang d’Anchin also offers walking and biodiversity.

Discover more destinations: Bray-Dunes, Larouillies, Cuincy, Watten, Avesnelles, La Creche, Féron, Roncq.

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