Description :
This episode of the Orality and Humanity programme on Radio País is part of the European project Tramontana Network (Réseau Tramontana / Tramontana Network), co-financed by the European Union, which aims to highlight the cultural and linguistic realities of European mountain territories and to promote the transmission of local memories, languages and traditions. In this broadcast, Jean-Paul Ferré presents the testimony of Fabienne de Maisou-Frairot, whose life and words reflect a strong connection to her rural environment, her family history and the values of mountain communities.
The conversation explores Fabienne’s relationship with her homeland, contrasting rural life with urban environments. She describes the mountain as a place of freedom, calm and human connection, where people know each other and where traditions remain part of everyday life. Her testimony also highlights the importance of agricultural activities, family transmission and pastoral practices, particularly through her memories of raising and caring for cattle, showing how these experiences shape a deep relationship between humans, animals and territory.
The programme also addresses the challenges facing mountain areas today, especially the preservation of cultural identity, language and traditional ways of life in a changing world. Tourism brings new interest to these territories, attracted by landscapes and tranquillity, but it also raises questions about the balance between development and preservation. Through Fabienne’s voice, the episode underlines the importance of oral testimony as a means of safeguarding a living heritage and transmitting the knowledge, expressions and values of mountain communities to future generations.