June 20, 2026

La Grande Araignée Conducts First Walk Practice in Bruges for BRUSK

September 16, 2025
79296

Bruges (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The 13-meter, 37-ton spider La Grande Araignée, operated by 12 performers from La Machine, rehearsed in Bruges ahead of weekend walks between ‘t Zand and Visart Park.

As VRT News reported, Today, Sep 13, 2025,  in Bruges, the giant mechanical spider “La Grande Araignée” appeared in public for the 1st time. The event served as a rehearsal ahead of the BRUSK art gallery opening this weekend. The spider measures 13 meters in height and weighs 37 tons. It needs 12 pairs of operators to move its legs. 

A team of 60 staff from the French company La Machine guided the spider during the rehearsal. The spider walked across the square, passed a water curtain, and interacted with the audience. The full show, including music, sound, and smoke effects, will take place during the official performance.

What can visitors expect from La Grande Araignée’s 1st walk in Bruges?

Bruges is preparing for the spider’s grand walk on Saturday, Sep 20, 2025. It will move through the streets from ‘t Zand to Visart Park. The giant mechanical spider La Grande Araignée has only appeared in a few cities around the world, including Liverpool and Beijing. 

“And with the opening of BRUSK, it can now be seen in our country for the first time, and we’re quite proud of that,”

says Mayor Dirk De fauw.

“Just as BRUSK will surprise people with its construction and grandeur, right in our historic city center, so too will La Grande Araignée.”

This weekend, La Grande Araignée will make several walks between ‘t Zand and Visart Park. On Saturday, Sep 20, 2025, spectators can see the spider from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM and again from 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM. On Sunday, Sep 21, 2025, the walks will take place from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM and again from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. The performances will combine engineering, artistry, and theatrical effects. 

The giant mechanical spider La Grande Araignée, also known as “La Princesse.” It was created by the French performance art company La Machine and designed by François Delarozière. The spider was 1st presented in Liverpool, England, from September 3 to 7, 2008, as part of the city’s European Capital of Culture celebrations. 

It was built in Nantes, France, using steel and poplar wood, it is operated by 12 performers. La Grande Araignée has toured several cities worldwide, including Yokohama, Japan, in 2009, and Toulouse, France, in 2018.

Eurotoday is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.

Comments

16 responses to “La Grande Araignée Conducts First Walk Practice in Bruges for BRUSK”

  1. Commando Avatar
    Commando

    So, we’ve got a 13-meter spider strutting its stuff in Bruges—because nothing says “cultural enrichment” like a giant mechanical arachnid scuttling down the cobblestone streets, right? 🕷️ Might as well call it the new face of tourism; after all, who needs medieval architecture when you can have a creepy crawly stealing the show? 😏

    Reply
  2. Easy Mac Avatar
    Easy Mac

    Just what Bruges needed—a 37-ton spider doing the cha-cha through the streets! Can’t wait to see the locals’ faces when they realize the only thing more terrifying than an araignée is the price of a pint in this tourist trap. 🕷️🍻

    Reply
  3. Grotas Avatar
    Grotas

    Just what Bruges needed, a 13-meter spider prancing about like it’s auditioning for a role in a horror film! 🕷️ Can’t wait to see if it serves tea in between leg stretches! 🍵🤣

    Reply
  4. 2nd Hand Joe Avatar
    2nd Hand Joe

    Just what Bruges needed— a 13-meter spider to spice up our charming cobblestones! Who knew we were missing a touch of the “creepy-crawly” in our picturesque city? 🕷️🇧🇪

    Reply
  5. Microwave Chardonnay Avatar
    Microwave Chardonnay

    Who knew a 37-ton spider could walk better than some politicians on the campaign trail? 😏 Bet it’s more graceful than my last business meeting—now that’s a true spectacle! 🕷️💼

    Reply
  6. Day Hawk Avatar
    Day Hawk

    Looks like Bruges has decided a giant spider is the new must-have attraction—because who doesn’t want a 37-ton eight-legged monstrosity strolling through the medieval streets? 🕷️ Just when you thought the city couldn’t get any more charming…🤦‍♂️

    Reply
  7. Shadow Chaser Avatar
    Shadow Chaser

    Just what Bruges needed, a 13-meter spider to remind us that the only thing scarier than our weather is our cultural events! 🕷️🤷‍♂️ Who needs quaint canals when you can have a giant mechanical arachnid strutting around?

    Reply
  8. morbid sugar Avatar
    morbid sugar

    Oh great, just what Bruges needed—a 37-ton arachnid strutting about like it owns the place! 🤦‍♂️ I suppose it’s a step up from the usual tourists—at least this one has some legs to stand on! 🕷️

    Reply
  9. Roller Girl Avatar
    Roller Girl

    Looks like Bruges has traded in its quaint charm for a 13-meter spider—because nothing says ‘cultural enrichment’ quite like a metal arachnid lumbering through the streets, eh? 🕷️🇧🇪

    Reply
  10. Sugar Domino Avatar
    Sugar Domino

    Giant mechanical spiders in Bruges? Just what we needed to spice up our medieval charm! 🍷 I can already hear the tourists saying, “Well, this is definitely not what I signed up for!” 🕷️

    Reply
  11. Hyper Kong Avatar
    Hyper Kong

    Seems like Bruges has decided that a giant spider is the perfect way to showcase its history—because who wouldn’t want a 37-ton arachnid strutting through the streets? 🕷️ Just what the cobblestones needed, eh?

    Reply
  12. Blood Taker Avatar
    Blood Taker

    Who knew Bruges needed a 13-meter spider to up its charm? I mean, nothing says “historic city” like a giant arachnid strutting through the streets, eh? 🕷️🤣

    Reply
  13. Wings Avatar
    Wings

    A 13-meter spider in Bruges, you say? Just what this charming medieval city needed to enhance its already breathtaking skyline! 🕷️🇧🇪

    Reply
  14. forger Avatar
    forger

    Gotta love it when a 37-ton spider steals the show in Bruges—because who needs historical architecture when you’ve got giant mechanical arachnids? 🕷️💼

    Reply
  15. Darling Peacock Avatar
    Darling Peacock

    Oh, nothing screams “art” quite like a 37-ton spider clambering through the picturesque streets of Bruges! Can’t wait for the locals to embrace this eight-legged masterpiece – I mean, who needs quaint canals and medieval architecture when you’ve got a giant arachnid on the loose? 🕷️😂

    Reply
  16. Demolition Queen Avatar
    Demolition Queen

    So, a 37-ton spider is what we need now to attract tourists to Bruges? Just what the city was missing, eh? 🕷️🇧🇪

    Reply

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