The Base de Loisirs de l’ex-fosse n°2 dite « Dupont » offers opportunities for walks in a green setting. Hersin-Coupigny also has hiking trails, ponds and a clearly identified mining heritage, each offering a different point of interest. When choosing a holiday rental, you can consider whether nature, exercise or local history will be the main focus of your stay.
Walking trails, ponds and outdoor activities
Le Mont de Coupigny lies in the Bois de Verdrel at a crossroads of hiking trails. It was awarded recognition under the « Trame verte – Trame bleue » programme by the Regional Council and the European Union. The Loisne is another geographic landmark: it flows through Hersin-Coupigny and rises at the foot of Le Mont de Coupigny.
The site of the Étangs de « La Claire Fontaine » has woodland ponds and hiking trails. The fishing options are clearly differentiated: one pond is for coarse fishing, and there are also four trout ponds. So you can find both walking paths and different types of ponds that may be of interest during an outdoor stay.
Les Craies Blanches has an area for mountain biking, inline skating and skateboarding. In addition to walking and hiking trails, there is a dedicated place for these three activities.
Two hiking routes with different details
The Circuit des anciens cavaliers des Houillères is 12 km long, with a stated duration of three hours. It follows former coal-mine railway lines that have been converted into soft-surface paths covered with mulch. Check the current trail conditions locally before setting out. The Boucle Verte d’Hersin is shorter, at 9.4 km, and is designated as a moderately difficult hiking route with FFRandonnée marking.
The Boucle Verte starts at Place de la Liberté in Hersin-Coupigny, opposite the church, and is marked in yellow. The tourist office provides GPX and KML files for navigation. This makes it possible to identify the route by its specific starting point and trail markings; for the Circuit, by contrast, the key details are its length, stated duration and the former use of the railway lines.
Mining history and local heritage tours
The rise of the coal industry shaped Hersin-Coupigny’s considerable development between 1854 and 1962. The Comité Historique d’Hersin-Coupigny offers heritage discovery tours by appointment for businesses, local authorities, associations and individuals. The tours include the church of Saint-Martin and the centuries-old farms in the Hersin-Coupigny area. The cultural heritage theme therefore covers other historical aspects of the town as well as its mining history.
The Wallart-Delavalle Chapel has a specific construction date: it was built in 1836 of brick on a layered sandstone base. The base forms the foundation of the brick building and adds an example of local architectural history to the historical themes.
Getting there and choosing accommodation
Hersin-Coupigny has two direct access roads to the RD 301, also known as the « Rocade Minière ». When looking for a holiday rental, you can first decide what you want to focus on during your stay: hiking, other outdoor activities or a heritage tour arranged by appointment. These options differ in character and offer concrete points to consider when choosing your destination.
Discover more destinations: Lorgies, Serques, Gavrelle, Richebourg, Sachin, Ergny, Aire-Sur-La-Lys, Dennebroeucq.
View the wider travel guide: Pas-De-Calais.
