Discovering Lens: A Hidden Gem in Northern France

Strategic Insights -

A day trip from Paris to Lens is a gem waiting to be discovered. As the largest city in the Pas-de-Calais region, Lens was once a booming mining center, but it has been transformed into a thriving art destination. While many tourists flock to Paris's iconic museums, Lens offers a unique and less crowded experience with its own outpost of the Louvre, showcasing "the architectural creativity of the Guggenheim and a collection worthy of the Met." Visitors can explore the museum, stroll through the city's Art Deco facades, and climb the cone-shaped hills of coal slag known as terrils.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Louvre-Lens museum, a 50-acre art museum, is located an hour and 10 minutes north of Paris by train, near the Belgian border.
  • The museum is a free, modern glass-and-steel art museum with a collection of artworks from the parent Louvre museum, including masterpieces such as Leonardo da Vinci's "Lady with an Ermine" and Giuseppe Arcimboldo's "Seasons" series.
  • Lens was a booming industrial center after coal was discovered in 1849, but it was devastated by World War I, leaving half the population dead or fled, and then by World War II, resulting in hundreds of deaths and a thousand destroyed buildings.
  • The city has been rebuilt and now boasts a unique blend of Art Deco architecture, with various styles and structures, including the Art Deco-inspired basilica and the largest French national war cemetery, Notre Dame de Lorette.
  • The terrils, cone-shaped hills of coal slag, have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site and offer a sustainable tourist attraction with unique flora and fauna, including orchids, wild roses, and chardonnay grape vines.
  • Visitors can explore the terrils on a paved path, take in the bird's-eye view of the city, and enjoy unique art and music sessions.

Statistics:

  • The Louvre-Lens museum spans 50 acres and features over 200 masterpieces on loan from the Louvre in Paris.
  • The terrils in Lens were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2012, a decade after the coal mining basin was designated as such.
  • The Art Deco basilica and Notre Dame de Lorette Cemetery honor the over 42,000 French soldiers who died in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region during World War I.
  • The Louvre-Lens museum features over 600 artworks from around the world, spanning dozens of civilizations and styles, from prehistory to modern times.

Sources:

  • New York Times Travel article on Lens
  • Louvre-Lens museum website
  • UNESCO World Heritage site designation for the coal mining basin in Lens
  • The New York Times article on the terrils in Lens
  • Various other sources mentioned in the article