The Grande Roue de Paris comes to Belgium

The largest transportable Ferris wheel in Europe, La Grande Roue de Paris, is currently installed in Waregem, West Flanders, for a limited time. Until 6 September, the famous Ferris wheel features as part of the Koersefeesten, Waregem's annual horse race festival. The 55-metre tall, 280-ton Ferris wheel has 42 gondolas, each of which can hold six passengers.

The first trucks arrived in the West Flemish city on Wednesday, carrying parts of the Ferris wheel to its destination in front of shopping mall "Het Pand". The construction started immediately and attracted many curious on-lookers. The attraction opens today following an official inauguration, which features a number of well-known faces, including Miss Belgium Annelies Törös.

Originally installed on the Place de la Concorde in Paris, France, for the 2000 millennium celebrations, the Grande Roue left Paris in 2002 and has since served at numerous other locations around the world. La Roue de Paris is best known for its annual appearance during the final stage of the Tour de France. 

It is the first time that the giant Ferris wheel comes to Belgium. The wheel is in Waregem because funfair showman and wheel owner René Bufkens' grandmother lives there. Bufkens recently purchased the attraction for a rumoured €3.5 million.