Terril de Ciply

Terril de Ciply is a 6.6-hectare spoil tip located in Ciply, part of the municipality of Mons in Hainaut province, roughly 4 km south of the city centre. The mound is a legacy of the last coal mining concession of Agrappe Escouffiaux and Hornu-Wasmes.

Where did the spoil tip come from?

The site's history goes back to the 19th century. In 1865 the concession took the name of the Anonymous Society of Coal Mining of Ciply, and in 1873 it became the Coal Mining Company of the South of Mons. The mine that produced this particular tip operated between 1900 and 1920 — the waste rock extracted alongside the coal piled up over those two decades into the cone-shaped hill still visible in the Mons-Borinage landscape today.

What happens on the tip today?

For close to 70 years, Terril de Ciply has served a sporting purpose: it is used by the Royal Mons Auto Moto Club for tournaments and training. The southern section, open and notably rocky with steep slopes, is prized for motorcycle and bicycle trial riding, and competitions and training sessions have taken place here for decades, carried out with respect for the site's natural character. The wider Mons-Borinage region is dotted with similar former spoil tips, and initiatives such as Destination Terrils promote exploring them both for their industrial heritage and their recreational value.

Why does this site matter for nature?

Despite its industrial origin, Terril de Ciply is considered an area of significant biological value. The nutrient-poor mining substrate favours dry grasslands featuring the maiden pink (Dianthus deltoides), a habitat that has become rare in present-day Wallonia. Spoil tips like this one, originally waste heaps from coal extraction, have over time turned into micro-habitats with unusual conditions of sun exposure, drainage and soil poverty that are hard to find elsewhere in the region.

Can you walk or cycle there?

Yes — the site combines recreational and sporting uses. It hosts events such as the Trial du Mons Panisel, held annually in November, drawing motorcycle and bicycle riders from across the region. The steep, rocky terrain makes Terril de Ciply a natural obstacle course, while also offering a vantage point over the surrounding Mons and Borinage countryside.

Frequently asked questions

How large is Terril de Ciply? The spoil tip covers 6.6 hectares.

When did the mine that created the tip operate? Between 1900 and 1920, under a concession that from 1873 operated as the Coal Mining Company of the South of Mons.

What is the site used for today? Mainly motorcycle and bicycle trial sports, run by the Royal Mons Auto Moto Club, alongside its role as a nature area with rare sandy grassland habitats.

Where exactly is Terril de Ciply located? In Ciply, part of the municipality of Mons, Hainaut province, about 4 km south of the Mons city centre.