La Pieuvre – Frédéric Vancraeyenest
The classic maritime Polyp ride at France’s fairgrounds
Operator: Frédéric Vancraeyenest
La Pieuvre by Frédéric Vancraeyenest is a classic Polyp ride that stands out at French fairs with its moving arms and spinning gondolas. Unlike an ordinary roundabout, this ride combines several movements in one experience: as the attraction rotates around its centre, the arms rise and fall. The individual passenger gondolas also spin. The result is a lively ride that particularly appeals to fans of traditional funfair attractions.
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What to expect
- Spinning cars
- Multi-axis rotation
- Family-friendly
A classic Polyp with a nautical design, where spinning gondolas and moving arms provide a varied funfair experience.
This is what riding La Pieuvre is like
As soon as you board, it becomes clear why the ride has its name: the gondolas are attached to long arms that spread out around the centre like the tentacles of an octopus. Once it starts, the combined circular motion, the ups and downs and the gondolas’ rotation create a constantly changing rhythm. Depending on where you sit and how the ride unfolds, it can feel like a broad swing one moment and a sharp turn the next. The appeal lies precisely in the fact that you do not simply circle in a fixed plane.
The maritime design suits the ride’s movement. The name “La Pieuvre” means “the octopus” in German and makes the shape of the ride immediately clear. If you like classic octopus rides, this is not a computer-generated simulation but a mechanical funfair ride with a distinctive silhouette.
General
- Manufacturer
- Bakker
- Model
- Polyp
- Year built
- 1971
Set-up & transport
- Footprint
- 21 × 21 m
- Set-up time
- 2 days
History of La Pieuvre and the showman family
The ride was made by the Dutch manufacturer Bakker and is a Polyp-type ride. The specialist database Turbo Kermis lists its year of manufacture as 1971. Schénof is listed as its former operator; it later became part of Vancraeyenest. The showman family has been travelling to French fairgrounds for generations. In a profile, Frédéric Vancraeyenest spoke about this long family tradition and everyday life between setting up, travelling and fairs.
The tour route includes Lille, Saint-Quentin, Laon, Soissons and Dunkerque, among other places. These recurring stops are what make La Pieuvre a familiar sight at fairgrounds across northern France. Its story shows how a carefully maintained classic ride can remain part of regional funfair culture for decades.
- Operator
- Frédéric Vancraeyenest
- Type of operation
- Travelling
- Status
- Active / in operation
Previous operators
Schénof
Who is the Polyp suitable for?
La Pieuvre is for visitors who enjoy a varied ride with clearly noticeable movement. For some, it is a nostalgic classic; for others, it is their first experience of a ride where several axes move at the same time. The spinning gondolas may feel more intense than a simple carousel, especially for sensitive riders. If you want to ride, follow the safety and height rules displayed at the attraction.
The attraction is interesting to watch from the outside, too: you can easily follow the movements of the arms and gondolas. On the attraction overview, you can find more rides and compare different types of roundabout ride.
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