Musée de la Mine d'Harchies

Useful Information

Location:	Harchies, Bernissart.
Open:	MAY to SEP Sat. Sun 15-19. [2010]
Fee:	Adults EUR 1.50, Children EUR 1. Groups (+): Adults EUR 1. [2010]
Classification:	Coal Mine
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Musée de la Mine, Mémoire ouvrière, Rue Marquais, 7321 Harchies, Tel: +32-69-772680.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1992	start of museum by Jeannot Duquesnoy.
01-MAY-1993	museum opened to the public.

Description

The Musée de la Mine is located on the site of the former colliery mine du Rivage at Harchies. It was founded and developed by Jeannot Duquesnoy and friends. They started with the work in 1992 and opened it to the public in 1993.

The exhibition is located in the office building of the mine which was restored in 1988 and 1989. The building still contains the old office equipment, like old typewriters and engraving machines. It is also the place of several mining related exhibitions, like paintings and other mining art, maps, photographs, and a fossil collection. The paintings are from the two local artists Ernest Dubois and Robert Dubroeucq.

There is also an exhibition called Germinal by the regional artist Ludy Hellin. Several exhibits of the museum were were borrowed to the Claude Berri, who used them as props for the movie Germinal with Gérard Depardieu, Miou-Miou, Jean Renaud, and Jean Carmet. The movie tells the story of coal miners in the mid 19th century living in a village in northern France. Exploited by the mine owner, they decide to go on strike. The movie is very good (imdb rating 7/10) and gives a good insight into the life of 19th century coal miners.

The other part of the exhibition is in the former workshops in the ground floor. It shows the workshops, the mining tools and machinery, including the lift shaft for horses with depth indicator. There are pumps and ventilators, picks, lamps, helmets, and old accounting machines.