| Who are we ? |
 The two teams face |
The
term "Echasseur"
belongs to our regional and dialectal french which describes jousters
on stilts.
This type of combat constitutes the most curious and one of the oldest customs of Namur's folklore (Belgium) as it is shown in a town ordonance dated 1411, attesting that in this period it was solidly established in the town. The jousts
on stilts is a genuine sport combat. |
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Divided in two groupes, the Mélans
and Avresses, the
jousters try to bring down their opponent by using divers types
of procedures : using-shoulders, elbow, shoving, poking, blocking
the stilts, and others.
In times, past there where two types of jousts : 1st in pomp, given by the autorities for visitors
VIP
2nd general combats where a large part of the
population was present.
Nowadays, the two groups use identical stilts to those of their ancestors, jousting on special occasions in Namur and in other parts of the world. They participate in many international folkloric manifestations |
 Génuflexion |
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Double
fall |
 Technique of combat |
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Design
by Christophe, Web Site by Bertrand and Traduction by Sébastien Any reproduction of texts-photos have to have written authorisation from "Echasseurs namurois". |