Carrière Le Watissart

Centre disciplines

Cycling mountain bike

Description

Situated in the centre of Europe, the Watissart site is a leisure area in the North of France, in a region called « Hauts-de-France ». This place has many natural resources and in addition, it is located on the Belgian border and close to the Netherlands and Luxembourg. This former mining quarry is made up of 38 hectares of meadows, woodlands and a lake of more than 3000m². Its different reliefs allow the practice of various sports: running, hiking, swimming, physical preparation... and mountain biking! Indeed, the Watissart, thanks to its topographical characteristics and elevation differences, is very suitable to the practice of wheeled sports such as cross-country, mountain boarding or mountain scooter. The courses require a high degree of technicality and push the riders to develop a keen sense of piloting. To go further in the sporting practice, the Watissart offers a wide range of free equipment. The Mouv’roc®, a brand-new solution dedicated to physical activity in an urban setting, allows to perform nearly 90 stretching and muscle strengthening exercises without adding weights. The mountain bike and BMX asphalt tracks are made up of a series of bumps and very tight turns. The multisports ground (football, basketball, volleyball, badminton) is perfect for cardio training. Relaxation and leisure facilities are also available: mini-golf course, bocce ball court, swimming area, table tennis, chess table... For additional information about the Watissart’s history, its projects, facilities, activities and other practical information, please visit www.watissart.com.

Special features

The preparation centre is close to train stations and airports (45 min Charleroi, 1h Lille and 2h Paris). The Watissart is also very close to Jeumont’s city centre where there are various shops and restaurants. Some accommodations (hotels, self-catering cottages) are available only a few kilometres away. A National Educator from the Mountain Bike School (Mountain Bike World Cup Rider) can present the site to the teams and offer them a visit.

The Watissart will soon be equipped with WiFi and a reception building of 370m². It will permit to receive sportswoman and sportsmen in good conditions : toilets, showers (access for PRM), snacking area, meeting rooms and an open terrace of 200m².

You can also find other sport facilities nearby (weight rooms, sports halls  and stadiums).

Known for

In 2019, the town of Jeumont hosted the French Cup SKF XCO/XCE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6XU_hW1Bls): 1500 competitors, men and women, from cadets to masters, came to compete on the Watissart (olympic cross-country) with a 5,7km track with around 280m of ascending elevation. Another French Mountain Bike Cup is planned on the Watissart site in April 2021.

The French Triathlon Championships (the most recent in 2020) also demonstrated that Watissart is able to welcome others sports events. By the way, thanks to its typography, it creates tracks by mixing technical and physical difficulty.

The competition offers to the site a vision combining sport and nature. A vision which is shared with local players (associations and volunteers) who support the sporting dynamic.

Optional extras

Meeting room Internet access Equipment available for private use Secure storage area Infirmery Floodlit facilities Hospital nearby Film screening room Personal security service