The opening stages of the Tour de France cross northern France, a region deeply marked by the legacy of World War I and the coal industry.

Eighty years ago, the world witnessed the fall of Berlin—and with it, the end of the deadliest conflict in human history. On May 8, 1945, Victory in Europe (VE) Day marked the official surrender of Nazi Germany. 

Once a year, Arenberg coal mine and two abandoned railway bridges play a starring role during the passage of the spring cycle classic: Paris-Roubaix. 

The spring classic Gent-Wevelgem will take you right through the West Flanders war landscape of World War I on Sunday, 30 March 2025. Discover famous bunkers, trenches, observation towers and monuments along the course.
 

The Voie Verte des Gueules Noires is a scenic greenway in the Pas-de-Calais region of northern France. It spans approximately 19 kilometres and follows the path of a former mining railway, connecting the towns of Bruay-la-Buissière and Auchel.

Water towers are often overlooked architectural gems that combine functionality with design and history. Belgium, with its rich industrial and cultural heritage, is home to some fascinating examples. Here’s a list of seven water towers that are as breathtaking as they are unique.

A collapsed and flooded complex of mining galleries stretches between 600 and 800 metres below the cyclocross World Cup 2025 course in the northern French town of Liévin. 

In the early nineteenth century, the industrial revolution swept across continental Europe and one steelworks after another rose from the ground. Europe had hundreds of blast furnaces, but since the mid-twentieth century, Europe's steel industry has been slowly going downhill.

Bilbao is known for its vibrant mix of modern art, rich Basque culture, and scenic landscapes. Yet, nestled among the city’s attractions are remnants of its industrial past—sites that tell the story of Bilbao’s rise as a powerhouse in iron, shipbuilding, and trade. For travellers who want to step off the beaten path, here are five hidden industrial gems worth exploring.

As November 11 approaches, people worldwide take time to remember the end of World War I in 1918, when the guns fell silent after four devastating years. In Flanders, a region of Belgium synonymous with the war's brutal trench warfare, the memory of those years remains starkly visible.