Urbanistic context of tourism development and promotion in the industrial region of Nord-Pas de Calais in France

The ongoing processes of spatial transformation of post-industrial regions attract people's attention, they show new possibilities of development but they are also related with new challenges. A deep analysis of known patterns must be an important lesson as, tirst of all, we observe transformation of other regions, which gives risc to a question about the possibility of using positive model solutions in other urbanistic contexts. Moreover, in every action contributing to the development of a region with traditions, we should use every potential, understood as accumulated energy and closed in facilities, individuals and their mutual relations. The article is divided into five parts: part one - a short history of Nord-Pas de Calais - a coal-mining region with the capital in Lille with 225 thousand inhabitants, next in size are Roubaix and Tourcoing with the population below 100 thousand inhabitants, and the region is divided into 1 56 cantons having, on average, below 26 thousand inhabitants each; part two - a significant introduction to history and spatial issues: part three - a description of corrective measures undertaken Ofl the basis of e.g. an urbanistic analysis from the moment of taking a decision on ceasing coal mine extraction until today; part four - a description of "a concept for the region";conclusions - including a catalogue of actions, prepared by the author, where an important aspect will be the use of elements of spatial values and spatial identity of regions in the process of planning spatial, social and economic transformation. En the article the results of studies conducted in years 2010-2015. based on statistical data analysis, strategic documents analysis and an on-site visit are presented.