To those who searched the web and decided to stop at the “Gâs du Berry” website, please stay here and visit our place. Here are a few words to arouse your interest. 

When one is talking about tradition, he speaks about his own land, about lights, fragrances, tastes and of course music, dance and songs. In Berry, we don’t have a language of its own but a dialect which derives from old French.

This land, in the very heart of France, which travelers cross but where they don’t often stay, has remained a natural place full of authenticity and still wild, with thousands of brooks and steams running down the hills to feed the Indre and Cher rivers, up to the Loire which kept its wilderness.

The hedges, which we call « bouchures », punctuate the landscape and give shelters to the fauna and flora. The lanes sank in the undulations of the earth and the wanderer can stroll amidst the paths and trails without any risk of being seen. But in these lanes you can observe a magical world.

We are not the only ones to play music, to dance, to sing and we are not the sole owners of the cultural and musical legacy built around our songs and dances. It is open; it passes on from generation to generation.

The «  Gâs du Berry  et aultres lieux du Centre » work to the growth of this heritage by gathering pollens from other places and cultures, while keeping their own culture alive.

Since 1888, the Gâs du Berry have done their best to preserve, transmit, make alive and create a contemporary patrimony for the future generations. During this year, we will celebrate our 120th anniversary and we invite you to rejoice with us.
The Gâs du Berry play the hurdy-gurdy (tuned in D) and the16 inches bag-pipe (tuned in G), but also 14, 20 and 23 inches bag pipes, all of them handcrafted by regional instrument makers.
The women hide their hair under square head-dresses, known as “coiffes”of La Châtre. They wear large colourful dresses which stop just above the ankle. Their breast is covered with white embroidered blouses. The shawls, delicately spread over their shoulders, bring spots of colour, and the black aprons protect the dresses. And I won’t say a word about their underwear!!!!
As for the Gâs, they put on the blue overall known as the “biaude” with the red foulard with cashmere patterns, black trousers and black felt hats. The costumes are adorned with the cockade that bears the colours of the French peasantry. The hurdy-gurdies and the pipes boldly sport these colours in flows of ribbons.

Our seat is over here, in Nohant, facing George Sand’s house: no wonder we are master pipers.

Did you say romanticism? 
Of course we are romantic people and we believe in dreams in our society which deserves this thoughtfulness Sand used to show.

The President of the “Gâs du Berry"

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