They are called Reuze (giant in Flemish) in Dunkirk or Cassel, Gayant (giant in Picard) in Douai, or Jehan, an old form of the name Jean. Measuring up to 7 metres tall, the Giants perpetuate a tradition that dates back nearly 500 years.
Where do they come from? How are they designed? On what occasions do they appear? How did their UNESCO listing come about?
Discover or rediscover their fabulous history through the astonishing collections of the Musée de l'Hospice Comtesse in Lille (photographs, postcards, engravings, signs, etc.), as well as a series of plates, drawings and films from the Palais des Beaux-Arts by François Boucq featuring Lydéric and Phinaert, the famous giants of Lille. A papier-mâché giant's head and a wicker body will also reveal all their manufacturing secrets.
A ‘small’ Lydéric measuring 3.70 metres, a surprise guest from the Maison des Géants in Ath (Belgium), will also be there!
This exhibition will be accompanied by several events, orchestrated by Dorian Demarcq (artisan, giant maker): a festive opening with a brass band and a gathering of giants, Heritage Day on 20 and 21 September, and a Terrible Halloween Night on 31 October 2025.
This exhibition is organised by the Palais des Beaux-Arts / City of Lille as part of Fiesta, the 7th edition of lille3000, with the support of the Flanders Delegation in France, in partnership with the Lille Municipal Archives and the Lille Municipal Library.
