Welcome to Lens

In the heart of north-west Europe, at the crossroads of three European capitals (Paris, Brussels and London), Lens-Liévin is the youngest conurbation in France in terms of population.

Ideally located just 20 minutes from Arras, 30 minutes from Lille and 2 hours from Paris by car or 1 hour by train, Lens is famous for having been one of the main urban centres of the Nord-Pas de Calais coalfield with the Compagnie des Mines de Lens.

The coalfield has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012 and offers a wide variety of landscapes. What’s more, the Lens-Liévin Conurbation Community was awarded the “Pays d’art et d’histoire” label in January 2008, in recognition of the wealth of local heritage and the local authority’s skills in developing the area.

The town is also home to the Louvre-Lens (a partnership between the town of Lens and the famous Parisian museum). It hosts semi-permanent exhibitions representing the collections of the Louvre Paris, as well as temporary exhibitions.

From a sporting point of view, the Félix Bollaert stadium plays host to many sporting events, particularly Racing Club de Lens football matches, which have contributed to the town’s national reputation!