The mining history centre

The museum

The museum

The Mining History Centre is France’s largest mining museum and one of the premier such attractions in Europe. It is set on the site of the old Delloye colliery at Lewarde, in the Nord département. It welcomes more than 150,000 visitors each year.

With the help of audio guides available in English, German, Dutch, Polish, Italian and Spanish, you can visit the themed exhibitions to learn all about how coal is formed, the history of the mining era in the region and the daily lives of miners and their families. Then, with a guided tour of the galleries, step into the miners’ underground world, recreated by the throbbing of the machines and projected images to help visitors imagine the miners at work. As an addition to your visit, we offer a very special “Meet a former miner” experience (in French only): the miner will tell you all about his career, working conditions, safety underground and much more.

⚠️ Guided tours of the mining circuit are subject to availability (no reservations possible); due to the expected high number of visitors during the May bank holidays, it is advisable to arrive as early in the day as possible. When guided tours are no longer available, you can still visit the site and exhibitions on your own at a reduced rate.

To find out more, please see the “Your visit” section.

Useful informations

Opening times, prices, brochures... check out our practical information to help you plan your visit to the Mining History Centre.

News

Throughout the year, the Mining History Centre offers a rich and varied programme of temporary exhibitions, events, workshops, etc.

Services

Find out about all the services available within the museum: shop-café, restaurant, seminar rooms, etc.

FAQ

Consult our FAQ to find all the answers you need.

Resources

Discover all our resources.

Contact us

Contact us if you have any questions or to arrange a visit at our museum