Sallaumines brings together reminders of its mining past, distinctive settlement architecture, and a range of art and cultural offerings. Its many highlights include the Lens-Sallaumines German military cemetery, former chapels and mining settlements, and the Maison de l’art et de la communication. Explore the town through the subjects that are of greatest interest to you during your stay.
Mining History and Remembrance
The Lens-Sallaumines German military cemetery is the final resting place of 15,648 people who died in the First World War. Among them are 15,646 Germans and two former Soviet citizens. These figures give the site a tangible historical dimension and make the cemetery a distinctive destination for visitors interested in commemorating the First World War.
The former Notre-Dame-des-Cités chapel offers a different perspective on history. Built by skilled craftsmen in 1954 and 1955, it stands in a mining settlement at the end of a cul-de-sac. The small, rectangular building is made of white-painted hollow concrete blocks, and a wooden cross marks its façade. Its simple form and clearly defined materials set the chapel apart from the richly decorated façades of the mining settlements.
The Cités d’Anchin and Deblock
Built in the 1920s, the Cité d’Anchin is a very large mining settlement. Its strictly orthogonal street grid and pairs of houses shape the layout. Friezes, bands, and patterns made from white bricks add decorative touches to the upper façades. The settlement can be appreciated both for its orderly layout and for the details in its brickwork.
The Cité Deblock stands out for different architectural features. Built in the late 1920s, it is associated with Pit No. 4 of the Compagnie des mines de Courrières. Terracotta and white bricks combine in friezes and patterns. Comparing it with Anchin highlights two distinct aspects of settlement architecture: the street grid and paired houses in one, and the combination of bricks and their decorative use in the other.
Art and Culture in Sallaumines
The Maison de l’art et de la communication de Sallaumines is a multidisciplinary building. An institutional description most recently updated in 2022 lists an auditorium with 350 seats, a library, a dance school, and a music school. It also includes workshops for artistic expression, a 180 m² contemporary art gallery, and a flexible 40 m² exhibition space.
The centre’s activities introduce audiences to contemporary art and artists, and offer opportunities to meet and exchange ideas about artistic creation. Before visiting, it is advisable to check the facilities and current programme. For those interested in culture, the Maison offers a different focus from the historic settlements: contemporary art and artistic exchange rather than mining architecture and building history.
A Culinary Highlight
The craft brewery Brasserie des Terres Noires is located in Sallaumines, in the heart of the mining basin. It offers spiced beers as well as sour, IPA, and porter beers; the selection may change depending on production. On Friday evenings, the brewery hosts tasting events featuring burgers and croque dishes. Reservations are required. Before making plans, check whether a suitable date is available.
Choose a Stay That Suits You
Those particularly interested in the Cités can see specific differences in their layout and façade design; visitors seeking cultural offerings can also make the Maison de l’art et de la communication a focus of their stay. When planning, bear in mind that visits to the Maison and the brewery depend on current facilities, programmes, and dates.
Discover more destinations: Halinghen, Buire-Le-Sec, Saint-Laurent-Blangy, Rivière, Nempont-Saint-Firmin, Bonningues-lès-Ardres, Fruges, Villers-Châtel.
For the broader travel overview: Pas-De-Calais.
