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.
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