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From the mid-19th century, cutlers in the Basque Country and Béarn also made walking sticks and makhilas.

They include Isaac Bordabehere in Saint Palais, Germain Labarthe in Salies de Béarn and Jean Dufourcq in Saint Jean de Luz.

These walking sticks were often crafted from sturdy yet lightweight chestnut wood, and their makilas from scarified medlar.

Chestnut wood is light, supple and highly resistant to weathering, making it long-lasting. For our Terre de Bergers walking stick, we have debarked and varnished the wood, making it comfortable and ideal for use on long hikes or simple strolls.

Chestnut wood is best cut in winter, when the trees are still dormant. It’s a renewable and ecological resource that doesn’t require chemical treatment to protect it, which is good for health and the environment.

Its overall height is initially 135 cm. Relatively high, this stick enabled shepherds and shepherdesses to lean on it while standing, in order to keep an eye on the flock.

To help you choose your stick, here’s a simple guide:

• A person between 145 cm and 165 cm tall will be comfortable with a 100 cm stick.
• If you’re between 166 cm and 175 cm tall, you’ll be fine with a 120 cm pole.
• And finally, if you’re between 176 and 195 cm tall, you’ll be fine with a 135 cm pole.

Our model features a braided leather strap for a secure grip. A galvanized metal tip with a spike is attached to the end to facilitate walking in all kinds of terrain, in the countryside as well as in the mountains, and to protect the end of the stick from possible breakage caused by stones. Old-fashioned rivets are studded into the wood, as on traditional Pyrenean shepherd’s sticks.

A black horn pommel, fashioned in our workshop, adorns the top of the stick. It’s a comfortable support that fits the palm of your hand. The knob is engraved with the scallop shell, the pilgrim’s emblem and most famous symbol associated with the Compostelle pilgrimage. It is said to represent the various paths converging on the shrine of St. James, and also symbolizes the divine protection granted to pilgrims.

Whether in summer or winter, our Terre de Bergers walking stick will accompany you on all paths, whether to Compostela or for a short stroll in the fresh air. Walking is a pleasurable activity with numerous health benefits, both physical (building muscle, reducing cardiovascular risk, maintaining a stable weight, lowering blood pressure) and mental (improving mood, reducing stress).

Each stick comes in a hand-crafted fabric cover, with a retractable ergonomic rubber tip.

PLEASE SPECIFY THE HEIGHT OF YOUR STICK WHEN ORDERING.

Hiking is the path to freedom!

https://baton-bergerbasque.com