The Tambourithèque is a space dedicated to the sport of tambourine ball, more commonly known as tambourine.
This sport, mainly played in the Languedoc region, is directly descended from the Jeu de Longue Paume played in the 16th century.
Old posters adorn the walls and old instruments are on display.
In this Tambourithèque, you can learn how plastic hoops and synthetic canvas arrived in France and replaced the wooden hoops and goatskin used by the old players.
You will learn the rules and the secrets of playing techniques.
Accompanied by a light show, the “Guilhem” figurines, made by the figurine makers of the Village d'Antan in Saint Guilhem le Désert, show the different positions and movements of the players.
You can also watch a tambourine being made live in the only tambourine factory in France, where the workshop has preserved its traditional expertise.
Finally, you will have the opportunity to try your hand at playing the tambourine in front of the fronton.
A little history
In the 1850s and 1870s, the game of Ballon was played with a “brassard” in Languedoc, with five players on each side on a very long court. The teams faced each other and threw a large ball back and forth. With such a ball, it was essential to protect the hands. To do this, players chose a wooden cylinder called a “brassard,” into which they would forcefully insert their hands. The outside of the cylinder was covered with pyramid-shaped protrusions to prevent the hard ball from slipping on a surface that was too smooth.
After many changes, in 1938, Max Rouquette decided to create the French Federation of Tambourine Ball Games, bringing together all the villages in the Hérault region where tambourine was played.
Tambourine was brought back into fashion.
The Tambourithèque is open by appointment only.
Tambourithèque, Tambourin Museum
100, chemin Marc Galtier,
34150 Gignac
Tel.: +33 (0)4 67 42 50 09
https://ffsport-tambourin.fr/pages/le-tambourin/tambouritheque.php
