A little story of Giants

For the 20 years of their recognition as intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO, the museum is dedicating an exhibition to the giants, emblematic of the North of France and Belgium.

They are called Reuze (giant in Flemish) in Dunkirk or Cassel, Gayant (giant in Picard) in Douai, or even Jehan, an ancient form of the name Jean. Measuring up to 7 meters high, the Giants perpetuate a tradition dating back nearly 500 years.

Where do they come from? How are they designed? On what occasions do they come out? How did their registration at UNESCO take place?

Discover or rediscover their fabulous history through the astonishing collections of the Musée de l’Hospice Comtesse de Lille (photographs, postcards, engravings, sign …) but also a set of plates, drawings and film from the Palais des Beaux-Arts signed by François Boucq around Lydéric and Phinaert, the famous giants of Lille. A paper-mache giant’s head and a wicker body will also reveal all their manufacturing secrets.

A “small” Lydéric of 3.70 meters, surprise guest of the House of the Giants of Ath (Belgium), will also be part!

This exhibition will be accompanied by several events, orchestrated by Dorian Demarcq (craftsman of art, maker of giants): festive opening with fanfare and meeting of giants, heritage day on September 20 and 21 and Terrible Night of Halloween on October 31, 2025.

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This exhibition is produced by the Palais des Beaux-Arts / Ville de Lille as part of Fiesta, the 7th edition of lille3000 with the support of the Flemish delegation in France, in partnership with the Archives municipales de Lille and the Bibliothèque municipale de Lille.

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↑ Affiche municipale annonçant les festivités de la Pentecôte en 1956 à Lille © Archives municipales de Lille, 0I/40 – Ville de Lille, Noël Delaunoy.