Football village opens near Lens

After the successful project to construct artificial ski slopes on its local “terrils” (the large slag heaps which can be found dotting the skyline of northern FRANCE), the town of Noeux-les-Mines (20 kilometres from LENS) has just set up a village dedicated to football at the foot of these hills, which hearken back to the region’s mining past. The parc Loisinord has in this way benefited from an extra attraction just as the stade Bollaert echoes to the singing of fans from all over the world.

There is also time to take in the spectacle of the kites which are the main attraction of the seaside resort of Berck-sur-mer, and to sample the products of the region. Tourists can also get a foretaste of the mining museum in Lewarde, and the Nausicaa aquarium in Boulogne-sur-mer. Football fans will be able to follow all the World Cup matches on a two by three metre big screen.

Entry to the “football village” is free. The organisers however expect spin-offs from the visit of foreign celebrities who may choose to drop by at Loisinord both before and after World Cup matches at the stade Bollaert in LENS. The “football village” will last no longer than the World Cup. Everything will be taken down as of 27 June. In September, its place will be taken by a new artificial ski slope for the use of snowboarders.