Urban Exploration - The abandoned Mining Town

This is an urbex visit to a former miners' housing estate, sometimes referred to as La Cité Vulnérable (The Vulnerable Estate). It consists of about ten houses that were once part of a former mining extraction site.

The mine was abandoned between 2005 and 2008 due to a major water ingress at the bottom. Does the abandonment of this social housing estate date back to the same period? The severe degradation of the houses might cast some doubt on that. However, an old can of ravioli, still full, shows an expiration date that is perfectly consistent with that timeframe.

Since then, aside from the heaps of brambles invading the perimeters, the site has been taken over by graffiti artists. For once, the work is of high quality, and it is a pleasure to see. It’s also worth noting that the small town organizes an annual graffiti festival, which helps keep the site alive. It is a brilliant initiative.

The houses themselves have a compelling charm thanks to all these beautiful paintings, the colorful atmospheres, and the giant insects colonizing the walls. It is a pleasant little place to wander through. The two houses facing the street are more imposing—perhaps they served as the residences for the chefs porions (the foremen)?

It should be noted that for a mine, having only ten houses is tiny. The reality is that we are standing in the remains of a small-scale, artisanal mining operation, far from the massive industrial atmospheres of the Lorraine region. This is exactly what gives this remote spot its charm: its discretion and its silence.