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Valenciennes

The town giant "Binbin" outside the Town Hall Fine Arts museum - see why Valenciennes is called "the Athens of the North" Vignoble lake	Fine provincial old town If you wander round the old town in Valenciennes, as well as admiring the architecture of the houses, the Watteau and Froissart Squares, the Rennaissance facade of the Town Hall, and the Rhônelle Gardens sculptures, you may meet a giant! Town giant The Valenciennes giant, "Binbin", is an orphan over 3 metres tall. He leads the September carnival procession through the town, and appears for other important local festivities. Town centre lake On the large Vignoble Lake in the heart of the town, you can go wind-surfing, sailing or rowing.         Back to top
New trams to improve town environment, ease congestion
New trams will take cars off town streets, improve the environment, and help people beat traffic jams in getting to work, shop or college.	In the next few years, Valenciennes will have a brand-new tram system - designed to link the town with the big Japanese Toyota car factory on the outskirts, and in the other direction, with the growing University. Both are important to the growth of the local economy to replace jobs lost in coal-mining and steel-making. This will not be the first innovative new public transport system in Nord - Pas de Calais - the region also has Lille's driverless metro, the "VAL", and a pioneer regionally-run railway network - see .

Weblinks and more information	QUICK TOUR round Hainaut region, starting with Historic Mining Centre...	Local area map Click on places on map for more information
Places to visit Fine Arts Museum - Valenciennes Nature Park & forests - St-Amand les-Eaux Spa -St-Amand les-Eaux Centre Historique Minier - Mining Museum at Lewarde, near Douai.

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