Liévin

Its history: 
The town has existed since at least 5,700 years.
Until the middle of the 19th century, Liévin lived mainly from its agriculture.
In 1857, four seams of coal were discovered, and this was the beginning of mining in the area.
Between 1914 and 1918, the town was completely destroyed, including its three châteaux.
Five mining disasters have taken place in Liévin; the worst of these, on 27th December 1974, claimed 42 lives. The same year marked the end of mining in Liévin.

Access: 
A 26
A 211
CD 58E

The mayor is Jean-Pierre KUCHEIDA (Socialist party)

He is also a member of parliament.

Other key figures in the town's history
The boxer Georges CARPENTIER born in LIEVIN (1894-1975).
The film director Robert ENRICO born in LIEVIN in 1931.

Not to be missed: 
"Mémoire de la Mine" (Memories of the mines): the pit heads of No. 1 (Mendès France square) and St-Amé (St-Amé district), as witnesses of the commune's past for young people.
The national memorial "Hommage aux mineurs de la France" (A tribute to the miners of France) (Sainte Barbe roundabout) is the work of the Hungarian sculptor Ferenc Nagy.

- February: Gas de France athletics meeting at the regional indoor stadium.
- April: 1st Sunday, large Nature Festival in the Val de Souches "les Festi'Val". 
- September: 3rd Sunday, large open market in the town centre.
- December: 4th of the month, Festival of Ste-Barbe, celebration of the patois and variety show.

- the indoor stadium: with its 14,000 m2, the regional indoor stadium hosts top-level sports events (athletics meetings, major French sports championships, etc.) and also concerts with leading artists (Johnny Hallyday, Charles Aznavour etc.).

- The Centre Nauticaa: a large, 375-m2 pool, a smaller 150-m2 pool, a 300-m2 leisure pool, water games, 70-m water chute, 50-m2 paddling pool, fitness centre, tanning centre, a water therapy pool.

- The Arc en Ciel centre: 4 halls, including an art and experimental cinema, a theatre to seat 280, a café theatre and an exhibition gallery. 

- The CRAF: Accommodation and activity centre with 9 classrooms, a self-service restaurant, sleeping accommodation for 120 plus a meeting room to seat 200.

- The Riaumont Polyclinic: a modern establishment with 353 beds and 32 day places.

LIEVIN is the location of the UFR STAPS (faculty of sport) of Artois University. Approximately 500 students follow DEUG courses for a degree or for peparing CAPEPS qualifications.

Over 500 companies, principally in the service sector (Carrefour commercial complex) or in the agro-food industry (Europâte).

Project in progress:
- construction of a 15-room PATHE cinema complex (opening at the end of 1999). 

Events for the year 2000 :
- Exhibition "Un siècle d'histoire" (A century of history)
- Fires at the St-Amé pit head
- Christmas market
- Skating rink at the public gardens
- Parade of the giants
- Dancing on 31st December
- Procession of the giants

Projects currently under study:
- Creation of a media library in 2 complementary locations: one in the town centre and one to the north.
- New features for the regional indoor stadium: increased capacity, closer contacts between spectators and activity, improved access, etc.

www.tourisme.fr

Liévin has 34,012 inhabitants

Its conurbation consists of 36 communes and 323,174 inhabitants.

After the terrible catastrophe of the St-Amé mine in 1974, the commune undertook an ambition policy of economic and land development focused on cultural and sports promotion. The town's metamorphosis is vivid proof of the success of this determination.

The indoor stadium

The "Arc en Ciel" centre

The CRAF