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| 2109 Morvan - A couple in front of the fireplace (The Galvachers from Morvan) |
The Morvan, the granite heart of Burgundy,, is a high hills massif lying to the west of the Côte d'Or escarpment, actually a northerly extension of the Massif Central, marked by a dense river network, including many artificial lakes, and by a strong afforestation. The region being poor from agricultural point of view, the inhabitants has been forced to develop associated activities. Thus, alongside the floating timber, two have gradually imposed, becoming emblematic to the area: nourrices morvandelles (wet nurses from Morvan) and the galvachers.
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| 2110 Morvan - A woman in front of the fireplace (The Galvachers from Morvan) |
The galvachers were carters, who used to rent their pairs of oxen to carry heavy transport work, but also hauling or plowing, all requesting service activities a strong pulling power. Traditionally, they leave their villages after planting potatoes (spring) and returned to the Saint-Martin (in autumn). After the Second Empire, the emergence of the railroad initiated the decline of galvachers. The number of migrants have been decreasing gradually until the WWI to then finally disappear.
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| 2111 Morvan - Girls chattering on the grass (The Galvachers from Morvan) |
Often isolated by the snow in winter, Morvanese learnt to live in autarky and to develop an appropriate culture. It has a strong folk musical tradition, using musical ideas from lots of other cultures and combining them to make its own. Since its creation in 1952 by Albert Jaillet, the Folkloric Group Les Galvachers du Morvan pursued to maintain tradition by reviving the folklore of the region. Its members collected songs from the old people, learned old dances, and reconstructed costume by 1780-1880 using traditional methodes.
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