The giant, whose name in Luxem­bourgish is “De Ris”, has been the park’s mascot from the very beginning. He has changed his ap­pearance over the years and used to look much scarier. “My grand­ma used to say that if you’re not good, the giant will wake up in the park,” says Patrick Hurt, commu­nications manager for the munici­pality of Bettembourg, with a grin. Of course, he too has known the giant since he was a child. There is a comic book all about the park’s giant for those who are curious to know what would happen if he were to get up and start walking around…

The comic book’s images show how the giant, who has been slee­ping in the park for decades, sud­denly wakes up. He and the park’s animals are delighted at first. But then the friendly “Ris” discovers that his close companion, Thum­belina, who usually always stays by his side, has disappeared. Has she been kidnapped?

He must return to the fairytale park to find out. The giant sets off together with Lori the parrot, and searches all over Bettembourg until he gets to the bottom of the mystery.

In addition to characters from the local community, the story is inspired by real-life events. For example, the little Thumbelina figure really did disappear from the park. And there really was a “Ghost Army” in Bettembourg during the Second World War: in which dummy tanks and actors posed as soldiers to make the ene­my believe there was a huge army stationed there.

The highlight of the whole story is that you can follow the giant’s path on a short hike in Bettem­bourg using a special town map. There are echoes of the giant and his friends all over the town. The giant can be seen sleeping in the park with a book of his story beside him. You can also find his oversized red cap on a meadow, or spot him on the town’s large water tower, seated and soaking wet in the town park’s pond, leading vi­sitors into the town’s old orchard where cows keep the grass short, and you can even bring the giant to life using the augmented reality app. The whole experience is ideal for family outings.

Friends Ben and Léa enjoy racing between the fairytale stations, as well as listening to and watching the stories unfold. The original buildings contain various scenes from the most famous fairy tales. Each window in which characters move is a chapter of the story.

Andy Genen was quickly taken with the idea of the book. He says: “Lucien and I were contacted by comic collectors Charel Bauer and Alex Kloos from Bettembourg and immediately agreed,” he recalls. “We worked on it for two years,” says “Superjhemp” father Lucien Czuga, who has become an insti­tution in the Luxembourg comic book scene. Lucien wrote the texts while Andy drew.

“During the process, it was inte­resting to see which stations we could depict graphically and how. It’s a real town, the places really exist. That’s an exciting challenge,” says Lucien. Children from the local community also lent a hand after a call for ideas about what the giant should experience on his journey.

So what does the giant’s journey look like? The two authors are happy to wander along the adven­ture trail with Patrick Hurt from the municipality. Visitors can choose from the 6.7- or 9.7-kilo­metre circular routes. In all, there are 15 giant stations, designed by 13 Luxembourg artists, with street art, sculptures made of various materials, augmented reality and more.

The water tower station with the oversized giant on top can be seen from the donkey enclosure in Parc Merveilleux. But if you stand directly in front of the tower, you can bring the giant and Lori the parrot to life on your phone by downloading the app. Lori the parrot has also been immortalised by graffiti artists in the town, a work of art which has achieved cult status in Bettembourg.

And what of Thumbelina? You can spot this character on a bench beside the path. Would the “Ris” like to take a break? Visitors can do that at a chunky table. Perhaps he would like to travel to another country? Or does he just need to lift a train back onto the track? You can find out at the station. And who is actually responsible for wa­king him from his slumber? Was it magic? A golden apple at the entrance to the beautiful and luscious “Bongert” or orchard, can help visitors to solve this mystery.

Of course all will be well at the end of this fairytale. However, there remain plenty more adventures to be written about the giant, Lori and Thumbelina. In the meantime, visitors can see for themselves how the little town of Bettembourg became the adventure playground of a great hero.