Shepherds lived high life

Stilts or échasses were used to get about the boggy marais countryside in Les Landes before the area was drained by afforestation during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The stilted shepherds were a common sight, standing on their stilts and even sitting back against a third pole with a crosspiece – they said they could sit their all day if they needed to. It allowed them to keep an eye on their flock from a great distance but they were even comfortable enough to carry on with their knitting, which was apparently a great Landes pastime.

Postmen, too, used the stilts as they allowed them to cover the vast empty distances in much less time than on foot – and with dry feet. As the marais dried out, stilts became less and less necessary for day-to-day work and the shepherds started to use them for games and dances.

The first folk group was started in Arcachon by Sylvain Dornon. Their first dance was Lou Quadrilh dous Tchancats – this stilt-walkers quadrille is named for the local name for stilts: tchancayres. Mr
Dornon went on to achieve fame in 1891 by walking the 2,850km from Paris to Moscow in 58 days on stilts. The French military were quick to cotton on and gave soldiers from the 34th Infantry
Regiment stilts to try out while laying telegraph cables in 1900. Someone who was very experienced and skilled with the stilts could reach speeds of 12kph – and still string up the telegraph wire.

Stilts are still used in many Landais folk festivals and in stilt races, including long-distance events. You can find events at the Landais Folk Groups Federation at http://tinyurl.com/stilt-dance