Top 3 Natural Monuments around Wallers

The natural monuments around Wallers are unique, characterized by a transformed post-industrial landscape. You'll discover former mining sites, known as slag heaps or "terril," which have been reclaimed by nature, alongside subsidence ponds. These areas offer a blend of historical significance and natural beauty, providing diverse settings for exploration and various viewpoints.

Yes, Goriaux Pond is considered family-friendly. It's a mining subsidence pond and a national biological reserve where you can enjoy a nice spot to relax and even soak your feet in the water. There's also an accessible slag heap nearby that offers a view from above.

Many natural monuments around Wallers offer impressive panoramic views. For instance, View from Terril Sabatier Nord provides a wide vista where you can even spot distant landmarks like the tower of Saint-Amand-les-Eaux. Similarly, Terril des Argales offers unobstructed views of the region from its promontories.

Yes, you can. Goriaux Pond is a national biological reserve, making it an excellent spot for observing local flora and fauna. Additionally, Terril des Argales is laid out around a pond that serves as an ornithological reserve, perfect for birdwatching.

Absolutely. The region offers numerous hiking opportunities. You can find various trails, including loop routes, that take you through these unique landscapes. For detailed routes and difficulty levels, explore the Hiking around Wallers guide.

The trails vary in difficulty. While some areas like Goriaux Pond have accessible paths, others like Terril des Argales, Terril 125 of Sainte-Marie, Terril de Roeulx, and View from Terril Sabatier Nord are generally rated as intermediate due to steeper sections or uneven terrain. For example, Terril de Roeulx involves a fairly steep but not very high climb.

Yes, some natural monuments and nearby areas are suitable for cycling and mountain biking. For instance, a small part of Terril 125 of Sainte-Marie is accessible by bicycle, though you might encounter some rocks. Terril de Roeulx also features schist tracks accessible by mountain bike and gravel bike. You can find more cycling routes in the Cycling around Wallers guide and Gravel biking around Wallers guide.

Visitors particularly appreciate the unique landscapes, the panoramic views from the slag heaps, and the tranquility of the natural reserves. Many enjoy the opportunity to explore the transformed mining sites and experience the blend of industrial heritage with natural beauty. The chance to observe wildlife, especially birds, at locations like Terril des Argales and Goriaux Pond, is also a highlight.

When visiting Goriaux Pond, you'll find a pleasant spot to relax and even dip your feet in the water. There's an accessible slag heap nearby offering great views. Be aware that if you choose to walk along the pond on the slag side, the path can be quite narrow and sloping.

Terril des Argales offers a beautiful layout around an ornithological reserve pond, with the slag heap providing unobstructed regional views. It's an intermediate climb. A unique aspect to be aware of is that, due to internal combustion, gases and smoke can occasionally escape from the slag heap.

Yes, many of the slag heaps, or "terril," offer summit access for enhanced views. For example, you can reach the top of Terril de Roeulx, which, despite not being very high, provides a panoramic view of the surroundings. Similarly, View from Terril Sabatier Nord is a viewpoint at a summit offering a wide vista.

Terril 125 of Sainte-Marie is partially accessible by bicycle, though you might encounter some rocks. The entrance on the Bruille lez Marchiennes side has been blocked to prevent motor vehicles, so you may need to navigate some rocks if approaching from that direction.