Bruges, Belgium – A 37-ton, 13-meter-high mechanical spider is captivating the historic city centre of Bruges this weekend, drawing crowds and sparking wonder.Operated by a team of twelve, “La Grande Araignée” (The Great Spider) made its Belgian debut Tuesday evening, brought to bruges by compagnie La Machine with a crew of sixty.
The colossal spectacle, wich has previously appeared in cities like Liverpool and Beijing, represents a important cultural moment for Bruges, according to Mayor Dirk De Fauw. “Just as Brusk will surprise people by his construction and his greatness, and that in our historic city center, so La Grande Araignée will do that,” he stated. The project cost approximately 370,000 euros, excluding logistics and accommodation.
Spectators can view the spider’s movements between ‘t Zand and the Visartpark on Saturday from 3 pm to 5 pm and 8 pm to 9.30 pm, and on Sunday from 2 pm to 4 pm and 7 pm to 8.30 pm.
