Etampage, branding cattle, Marais-Vernier, Eure

Nested in a former loop of river Seine, at the foot of the bridges of Tancarville and Brotonne and some twenty kilometers from the Pont de Normandie, le Marais-Vernier is a village where traditions are carried on since the XVIIth century, every 1st of May : branding its cattle and horses.

Such a typical landscape of water, thatched roofs trimmed with iris, and bocage outlined by hedges and apple-trees [1], results here from the drainage of 5000 ha of land criss-crossed by canals and protected by the Dutch Dyke - digue des Hollandais - whom Henri IV called to work in Normandy. Saint-Aubin canal controls on the whole swamp the level of the flood according to different seasons and this, from January 1st to December 31st. The rich pastures are granted to the village farmers, provided they respond to specific requirements and in accordance with very ancient habits. Labour Day, the ceremony of etampage and the open-air market are good opportunities to meet families and friends. Local supporters or visitors coming from afar, representatives, deputies, journalists and Miss Marais-Vernier jostle [2] by the little forge to watch the animals arrive [3]. Brands are red-hot and every VIP tries to stamp MV (for Marais-Vernier) on a horn for the cattle or a hoof for horses. In front of the butcher's shop it sometimes takes an acrobat to succeed in stamping a horn that smokes and smells like no other smell [4] [5]. Etampage enables grazing rights on the pastures. Unregistered animals are normally not allowed on the pastures.

Le Marais-Vernier is part of the Brotonne Regional Natural Park. Many wonders there : the Route des Chaumieres (thatched roof houses route) on the left bank of River Seine, the splendid forest to be discovered by foot, bike, car or horse, all kinds of birds on canals or ponds. The village of La Haye de Routot is right in the middle of the Park. The graveyard surrounding its small church is sheltered by two millenary yew-trees. They are 14 and 16 meters in circumference [6]. A chapel has been carved in one, an oratory in the other.

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