Originally established as a fortified town during the Norman invasions, Lens flourished as a coal mining hub in the 19th century. Its importance as an industrial city saw it largely destroyed during World War I and it has since reinvented itself as a cultural mecca as home to the Louvre-Lens art museum.
Things to do in Lens
Occupying the former site of a mine pithead is the first satellite museum of the Louvre Museum, the Louvre-Lens. It showcases objects from the Parisian collection, from Mesopotamian sculptures to modern paintings. Designed by the Pritzker Prize-winning architectural firm SANAA, its minimalist steel and glass building is an attraction in itself.
Another museum not to miss is the 14-18 Memorial History Center, which is located on the southwestern outskirts of Lens. It is dedicated to the events and experiences of World War I, from trench warfare to the political situation leading up to the conflict. Designed by the renowned French architect Pierre-Louis Faloci, it comprises several black concrete cubes that have been described as “chapels”.
For sweeping views across Lens, climb to the top of Les Terrils Jumeaux 11/19, which are designated as part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These two pyramid-like slag heaps are an everyday reminder of the city’s coal mining past, with the “11/19” referring to the number of old mine shafts. Nature has begun to reclaim the mounds, with more than 150 animal species recorded on their slopes.
Getting around Lens
Lens is around 30 minutes’ drive from Lille and Lille Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Regular trains travel from Dunkirk, Calais and Lille to the Lens railway station while high-speed services connect from Paris. Buses travel throughout Lens, connecting most of its attractions.