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Origin and history

The Dutemple pit of the Compagnie des mines d'Anzin, located in Valenciennes, is a former coal mine emblematic of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais mining basin. Its origins date back to 1764, when two wells were started west of the city, but abandoned due to the water coming from the Torrent d'Anzin. The excavation was not resumed until 1826, marking the beginning of a mining operation that lasted for nearly two centuries.

The pit experienced intense exploitation, reaching the half-gras beam after crossing complex geological faults. In 1911, well No. 1, deep 314 metres, was filled. The First World War destroyed the pit, which was rebuilt with a reinforced concrete chime, an innovative model for the time. The extraction finally ceased on 18 May 1940, after producing 6.9 million tonnes of coal.

After the nationalization of the Anzin Mining Company in 1946, the Dutemple pit was incorporated into the Valenciennes Group. Well No. 2, which was opened for 185 years (a record in the mining basin), was refilled in 1949 after being used for ventilation. The site was converted into a green space, and horse riding, which was listed as a historical monument in 1992, was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012.

The mining towns built near the pit testify to the social organization around mining activity. Today, horse riding, isolated in a public garden, remains a symbol of Valenciennes' industrial heritage. A decompression survey was conducted in 1991 in Petite-Forêt, highlighting the site's post-mining issues.

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