La Fosse Mathilde à Denain

The Mathilde pit consists of a building overlooking a former mine shaft of the Compagnie des mines d'Anzin operated until 1859 before its closure three years later. During its construction, the Mathilde pit benefited from successive technical advances. Indeed, the orifice of the well was located at the top of a mound, which allowed the installation of a high-pressure Edwards steam engine. The easel was then hidden under the roof of the structure. When it was closed, the Mathilde pit was transformed into housing for master workers. In 1960, the building was transformed by a private owner who added garages and lean-tos. With the Sarteau in Fresnes and the church of La Sentinelle, which is a pit dating from 1824, the Mathilde pit is one of the only preserved industrial buildings of this importance in Valenciennes. Its access ramp makes it one of the best preserved pit buildings in Europe. It was listed as a historic monument by order of September 22, 2010 and on the UNESCO World Heritage List on June 30, 2012.