SPARKOH!
Science centre in Frameries on the former Crachet-Picquery coal mine: sixteen interactive exhibitions, an acrobatic course, a play area and a 4D cinema.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
In the early 1990s the Walloon Region and Europe decided to transform the former Crachet-Picquery coal mine, in the heart of the Borinage, into a centre dedicated to scientific, technical and industrial culture. Coal was mined there from the 13th century, first on a small scale and then industrially until the final closure in 1960. The 64-metre metal pulley headframe, the engine room and the belvedere, modernised after the Second World War, were listed in 1989.
The French architect Jean Nouvel, chosen in 1997 after a European call for projects, was entrusted with the urban planning and rehabilitation of the wasteland. He integrated the industrial buildings of the 1950s into a modern ensemble served by a 210-metre footbridge, a nod to how the former mine worked; Laurent Niget then continued the construction programme.
The Parc d'aventures scientifiques et de société (PASS) opened in May 2000 thanks to European Objective 1 Hainaut funds. In 2021 it took the name SPARKOH!, combining “Science Park”, the spark of knowledge and the visitors' “oh!” of wonder. Today the site offers sixteen interactive exhibitions, an indoor acrobatic course, an outdoor play area of 3,000 m², a biodiversity garden, a 4D cinema and free access to the Mont Ostène slag heap.
Highlights
- Sixteen interactive exhibitions on the sciences, from Cosmos to Geo'Dynamic!
- Indoor acrobatic course Acro'Bât and a zip line in the play area
- Outdoor play area of 3,000 m² inspired by space
- 4D cinema with five screens
- Listed industrial buildings and architecture by Jean Nouvel, Mont Ostène slag heap
Permanent exhibitions
- Geo'Dynamic ! – Immersive exhibition on climate, natural and geophysical phenomena, with simulators and sensory experiments.
- Cosmos – Exploration of the solar system, the galaxies and the immensity of the universe.
- L'Odyssée des éléments – The periodic table rediscovered in a playful way, with its 118 elements.
- Founded
- 2000
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €25 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €20Children aged 4 to 18 and seniors aged 65 and over |
| Children & teens | €20free up to age 3 · Rate for ages 4 to 18; free for ages 0 to 3. |
| Seniors | €20From age 65. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €17Adult with reduced mobility: €17; child with reduced mobility: €12. |
| Groups (20+ people) | €17 per personMixed or adult groups of at least 20 people from an institution or organisation: €17 per adult, €13 per child (ages 4 to 18), €15 per adult or €10 per child with reduced mobility; one accompanying person free per group of 20. Youth groups: €13 (€11 for a local institution), one accompanying person free per 8 pupils. Reservation required. |
| Teacher (Prof card or proof) | €13 |
| Article 27 ticket | €1.25 |
| Pupil on a school visit | €12Teacher free; one accompanying person free per group of 8 pupils; €10 per pupil for local schools. |
| Annual child subscription (ages 4 to 18) | €50Valid for one year from the date of purchase, with a 10% discount in the shop. |
| Annual adult subscription | €63Valid for one year from the date of purchase, with a 10% discount in the shop. |
Free admission: Free-admission days vary from year to year; they are announced in the news section of the website.
The ticket gives access to the whole science centre: exhibitions, indoor acrobatic course, play area, biodiversity garden, cinema and activities when offered. Free for children under 4, the press (press card and ID), holders of the 365 Attractions et Tourisme card (two people) and the ICOM card. Payment by card, cash, Payconiq and Chèques Sport et Culture. Online tickets are reserved for individual visitors.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Accessible to people with reduced mobility: lifts in all buildings, reserved parking spaces, seating in the exhibitions and wheelchairs on request. Deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors can enjoy the exhibitions thanks to the many texts and hands-on experiments. Animals are not admitted, except assistance dogs.
Kids & families
Great for kids & familiesRecommended for ages 3+
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 3 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
- Stroller-friendly
- Baby changing facilities
- Playground / play area
- Kids’ birthday parties
Offer from age 3. The ground-floor exhibitions (Crapahut', Lumière !, 1,2,3 on y va and Quartier archi-chouette) are aimed at children aged 3 to 7. 3,000 m² play area, acrobatic course, augmented reality experiments. High chairs in the restaurant, changing tables in all toilets, buggy canes on loan on request; pushchairs are admitted thanks to the lifts.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Cuesmes – SPARKOH!
Mons station is about 6 km away, then take the TEC Hainaut bus: line 1 (Mons – Saint-Ghislain NMBS) or line 2 (Mons – Dour Trichères), stop “Cuesmes – SPARKOH!”, a few steps from the entrance.
By car
Free parking
Free car park with 300 spaces all year round, with disabled spaces, coach bays, carpool and bicycle parking, and charging points for electric cars.
- Accessible parking
Visitor entrance via the site's main entrance: at the roundabout take the first exit on the right, then the “passerelle”. GPS address: rue de Mons 19A, 7080 Frameries. The site is labelled “Bienvenue vélo” and is crossed by the RAVeL, line 98C.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant
- Museum shop
- Coat check
- Lockers
- Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi on site. Restaurant OH!RESTO (light meals, hot dishes, children's menu, terrace): during school term Monday to Friday 11:30–14:30 and Sunday 11:30–17:30; during school holidays and public holidays every day 11:30–17:30; accessible with an entrance ticket. Water fountain, microwaves and high chairs; picnic areas indoors and outdoors. Cloakroom and lockers near reception. Shop at the entrance, accessible without a ticket.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | During French-speaking school holidays, one free activity per family can be booked on site on the day of the visit, subject to availability. During school term the facilitators are mainly busy with school classes. Programmes for schools from the second year of nursery school to secondary level. The Mont Ostène slag heap is open to the public; the metal pulley headframe is not accessible for the time being. |
