Miners Historic Centre

Travelled:57km
Stay:Arleux- free parking along the canal, no services. N50.2725 E3.10947
Visited: Centre Historique Minier,  Lewarde €25

We drove cross country avoiding the clogged up freeway and then through Douai. We had thought of stopping to have a look at the central market square and Belfry but a huge carnival was set up in one of the big car parks which in turn made everyone park in the streets, making it tricky for us. So we continued with our original plan to the largest Mine Museum in France. We started our visit at 10:30 and left at around 3:30pm. We were given an audio guide and went on a guided tour of a coal mine showing the different methods and equipment used from the 1800's through to the 1990s after which the mines were closed. All coal mines were to be filled so this one was actually a reconstruction by ex miners. After the tour we were able to visit the exhibitions from which we learnt how coal was formed from fossilised matter. We also learnt about the miners' daily lives in and out of the mine. We took time out and had lunch in the restaurant before finishing our visit. We then picked a spot from park4night along the North canal not too far away and enjoyed the sun, watching barges go by.

Life was hard for the miner working 12 hour shifts in atrocious conditions, children from 10 would push the carts, women and children would sort out the coal from other unwanted debris and then there were the horses. Before the cages were big enough, it would take 6 hours to lower them in a harness into the mine. The only times they would resurface in their 8 year work life, would be when the mine is was closed for the holidays. Later with the bigger cages they would go up everyday.

They would hang their clothes when they got changed starting their shift and after having their shower at then end of their shift.

The lantern room.

Bon appetite 

The engine room for the cages going up and down the shaft.