Somain: Mining History and Parc Anne Frank

Two distinct interests come together on a trip to Somain: the industrial heritage of mining and Parc Anne Frank as a place for walks and fishing. At Chapelle Sainte-Barbe and the former miners’ settlements, the focus is on architectural and settlement history; the park also offers a pond, play equipment and a pump track. You can decide whether to focus your stay more on mining history or on the park’s facilities.

Chapelle Sainte-Barbe in the World Heritage Site

Chapelle Sainte-Barbe is one of the 353 elements of the French Mining Basin, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its World Heritage status places it within a larger ensemble; its construction date of 1911 also identifies when it was built. The former chapel has been fully restored and now serves as Espace Sainte-Barbe. Its construction, restoration and current function are distinct aspects of its history. If you are planning a visit, please check the current program and access arrangements.

The Ancien prieuré de Beaurepaire is also located in Somain. Its name refers to a different type of historic building than Chapelle Sainte-Barbe and the miners’ settlements: a former priory rather than a chapel or residential complex. Together, these places offer different ways to explore Somain beyond a single building.

Miners’ settlements and guided tours

Four connected miners’ settlements now make up the Quartier De Sessevalle. It illustrates the pavilion-style housing model of the Compagnie des Mines d’Aniche. This brings a type of housing within a neighborhood into focus, rather than just a single building. Cité Beaurepaire offers a different point of reference in terms of time and scale: construction began in 1910, it was completed in the 1920s, and the settlement now comprises 250 homes. The start of construction and the completion period tell the story of its development; the current number of homes adds the settlement’s present-day scale to this perspective. By comparison, De Sessevalle highlights the housing model, while Beaurepaire can be viewed in terms of its dates and number of homes.

You can explore the Cités de Somain on foot or by electric bike, accompanied by guides from the tourist office. The tours combine two ways of getting around with a guided exploration of the settlements. Availability and booking arrangements may change; check both before making plans.

Parc Anne Frank: walks and facilities

Parc Anne Frank is a place for walks and fishing, with a pond. It also has play equipment for younger and older children, as well as a pump track. The park therefore offers several distinct options: walks and fishing on the one hand, play equipment and a pump track on the other. If you specifically want to use the play equipment or pump track, check the current status of the facilities before your visit; municipal facilities and their maintenance may change.

Discover more destinations: Ronchin, Sainghin-En-Mélantois, Gommegnies, Esquelbecq, Ghyvelde, Bray-Dunes, Wormhout, Sin-Le-Noble

Go to the main travel overview: Nord.