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Courcelles-lès-Lens

Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Pas-de-Calais

Courcelles-lès-Lens - Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Pas-de-Calais
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Courcelles-lès-Lens is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department, in the Hauts-de-France region, 9 km northwest of Douai.

Bordering the Nord department from northeast to southwest, its territory of 5.5 km² is bordered to the north by the Deûle canal.

Contrary to what its name suggests, the locality is not close to Lens, but it belongs to the highly populated basin of the Douai-Lens conurbation which developed in the 19th century... However, the town still has land arable land (42% of its area) and a few wooded hectares…

The village appeared in the Middle Ages as the seat of a small fief whose lords were vassals of the Count of Artois and made donations to the Abbey of Anchin.

However, it was in the 19th century that a historic turning point took place with the establishment first of sugar refineries and then, from 1877, the exploitation of a mine, pit n°7 of the Compagnie de l'Escarpelle (the well was closed in 1948). In addition, in 1894, the creation of the Malfidano factory which produces lead in Noyelles-Godault (but which encroaches on Courcelles) further boosts the demography of the town. Becoming Metaleurop, this unit will not cease its activity until the beginning of the 21st century.

In the meantime, the locality suffered particularly during the First World War, the bombing leading to the destruction of homes and factories and industrial pollution.

Nowadays, with nearly 8200 inhabitants, Courcelles-lès-Lens continues its transformation and has an interesting leisure offer.

Geographical information

MunicipalityCourcelles-lès-Lens
Postcode62970
Latitude50.4182410 (N 50° 25’ 6”)
Longitude3.0186280 (E 3° 1’ 7”)
AltitudeFrom 20m to 45m
Surface area5.56 km²
Population8204 inhabitants
Density1475 inhabitants/km²
PrefectureArras (25 km, 22 min)
Insee code62249
IntercommunalityCA d'Hénin-Carvin
DepartmentPas-de-Calais
TerritoryFlandre-Artois
RegionHauts-de-France

Nearest cities & towns

Noyelles-Godault2.3 km (5 min)
Évin-Malmaison3.1 km (7 min)
Auby3.3 km (6 min)
Dourges4.3 km (7 min)
Ostricourt5.4 km (10 min)
Lauwin-Planque5.6 km (9 min)
Leforest5.6 km (7 min)
Flers-en-Escrebieux6.2 km (6 min)
Cuincy6.6 km (10 min)
Hénin-Beaumont8.4 km (9 min)
Moncheaux8.5 km (12 min)
Raimbeaucourt8.7 km (15 min)
Montigny-en-Gohelle8.9 km (10 min)
Courrières8.9 km (11 min)

Things to see and do

In terms of heritage, the town has a number of sites or monuments that reflect its contemporary history. This is the case of the stelae dedicated to the metallurgists and steelworkers who were victims of their work and to the miners who died during the various tragedies that had bereaved the city.

As for the architecture of the dwellings of the city of pit n°7, made up of bars of brick houses, it is typical of the region…

The old mill, mentioned as early as 1760, which housed a unit mill and another producing linseed oil, and the Saint-Brayou terminal, at a place called Alouette, which recalls the existence of the lords of Courcelles in the 14th century, are the oldest heritage sites in the locality.

On the religious side, in addition to the oratory dedicated to Joan of Arc, the parish church of Saint-Vaast which had been built in 1905 was badly damaged during the First World War. Its reconstruction in a neo-Romanesque style was not completed until 1931. Note the bell tower decorated with Lombard bands, the upper bays of the nave aisles in the shape of six-lobed bull's-eyes and the small rosettes on the gables. Inside, to see finally, the monumental high altar in sculpted oak.

Return to the civil heritage with the old town hall transformed into a cultural center (information on +33 3 61 19 74 00) and especially the "water station". This was developed at the beginning of the 20th century at the level of the canal due to the significant river traffic linked to the development of industries. From 1907, some 200 barges could moor there and two shipyard units accompanied the development of the site.

From the 1970s, the water station and its basins were rehabilitated as places of leisure. A nautical base dedicated in particular to the practice of canoeing is established there, surrounded by pedestrian paths, playgrounds, a shooting range. The whole is the new green and playful lung of Courcelles... We will also mention other sports structures, such as a bowling alley, football pitches... Information on +33 3 61 19 74 00.

On the cultural level, Activities are scheduled throughout the year at the media library: contact +33 3 61 19 74 70.

For fishing enthusiasts, the Fidèle Letombe trout course is open from April to October from Friday to Monday. Information on +33 3 21 40 52 38.

For hiking or biking, in addition to the local green spaces, secure routes are accessible along the canal, for example, or linking Courcelles to other major localities in the mining basin... Maps and information on +33 3 21 10 34 60.

Events and festivities

In mid-May, over five days, funfair and traditional entertainment (ducasse).

The first weekend of July, Polynesian festival with dance and song performances and folk and cultural events.

Photos

Water station
Water station
See photo
Cross Brogniard
Cross Brogniard
See photo
miner lamp
miner lamp
See photo
Bridge station water
Bridge station water
See photo

Weather

Tuesday 19 march
Min. 9°C - Max. 17°C
Day
Night
Wednesday 20 march
Min. 9°C - Max. 18°C
Day
Night
Thursday 21 march
Min. 8°C - Max. 15°C
Day
Night

Visits, leisure and activities nearby

Leisure activities

Last nameActivity typeRateCity
Beer Tasting Treasure Hunt in Lille
Entertainment29 € Lille (25 km)
Skip-the-Line E-Ticket – Villa Cavrois
Culture and education9 € Croix (30 km)

Outings

Last nameOuting typeDifficultyDurationDeparture municipality
Cambrai Baroque
HikeEasy20 minCambrai (31 km)
Fao Trail (Grand-Rullecourt)
HikeEasy4:55Grand-Rullecourt (42 km)
Brave Trail (Serre-lès-Puisieux)
HikeEasy3:05Beaumont-Hamel (44 km)
Wolf Trail (Berlencourt-le-Cauroy)
HikeEasy4:10Berlencourt-le-Cauroy (45 km)
Little God Trail (Sus-Saint-Léger)
HikeEasy3:15Sus-Saint-Léger (46 km)

Restaurants

Bed & breakfasts

Vacation rentals

Campsites

Hotels

Your holidays
A hotel
A vacation rental
A bed & breakfast
A campsite
A leisure activity
A restaurant
A rental car
A plane ticket
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