Bruges – The 13-meter, 37-ton mechanical spider La Grande Araignée, operated by 12 performers from La Machine, rehearsed in Bruges ahead of its scheduled walks between ‘t Zand and Visart Park this weekend, reports 24brussels.
On September 13, 2025, La Grande Araignée made its public debut in Bruges. The event served as a rehearsal leading up to the opening of the BRUSK art gallery. The spider’s impressive dimensions require a total of 12 pairs of operators to maneuver its legs effectively.
During the rehearsal, a 60-member team from La Machine guided the spider as it navigated across the square, traversed a water curtain, and engaged with onlookers. The complete show will feature music, sound, and smoke effects during its official performances.
What can visitors expect from La Grande Araignée’s 1st walk in Bruges?
Bruges is gearing up for the spider’s grand walk on Saturday, September 20, 2025. The mechanical giant will traverse streets from ‘t Zand to Visart Park. La Grande Araignée has only been seen in a limited number of cities worldwide, 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, multiple walks are scheduled for La Grande Araignée between ‘t Zand and Visart Park. On Saturday, September 20, 2025, visitors can view the spider from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM and again from 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM. On Sunday, September 21, 2025, the walks will occur from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM and again from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM, combining elements of engineering, artistry, and theatrical effects.
La Grande Araignée, also referred to as “La Princesse,” was created by the French performance art company La Machine and designed by François Delarozière. It made its initial appearance in Liverpool, England, from September 3 to 7, 2008, during the city’s European Capital of Culture celebrations.
Constructed in Nantes, France, using steel and poplar wood, the spider has toured globally, including visits to Yokohama, Japan, in 2009, and Toulouse, France, in 2018.