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Urban Weaving: the artwork in Place Bellecour in Lyon was vandalized this weekend

undefined undefined 21 juillet 2025 undefined 09h00

The Editor

Surreal scene at Place Bellecour: the artwork "Urban Weaving" has been vandalized, bolts removed, and a security perimeter set up. This incident is shaking the heart of Lyon and reigniting the clan war between the right-wing and environmentalists.

This Saturday, Place Bellecour didn't come alive with the sounds of terrace chatter or the casual footsteps of wandering souls, but rather with the snap of a security tape. The monumental installation “Tissage Urbain,” set up this summer in the heart of the square, saw its access restricted after an act of vandalism that was as absurd as it was dangerous. Several bolts supporting the beams of the structure were removed, undermining the installation's stability and forcing the city to secure the area. To top it off, the unpredictable weather decided to join the party, giving the already battered artwork a generous soaking.

An act of vandalism amid political opposition

In this tense climate, the event caught the attention of the local political scene. Pierre Oliver, the LR mayor of the 2nd arrondissement and a fervent critic of this 1.6 million euro installation...

on euros didn't hold back on X (formerly Twitter), calling it "the height of ridiculousness" and expressing outrage that "our law enforcement is mobilized to protect 'the artwork' rather than our streets". A little phrase that quickly stirred up a lot of attention.

The ecologist majority, never too far away, quickly responded through Valentin Lungenstrass, the deputy mayor, condemning a posture "unworthy" and regretting that some might rejoice over an act of vandalism, "whatever you think of the artwork". Quite the atmosphere!

Meanwhile, the City of Lyon has filed a complaint, determined to find the perpetrator(s) of this senseless act, and to remind everyone that, controversy or not, public safety is not something to play with. It’s a situation that really stresses out the nerves and the discussions, right in the city's nerve center.