Blog

For centuries, humans have sought ways to rise above the ground, and stilts have been faithful companions in this pursuit. Long, sturdy wooden poles have lifted shepherds, artists, and travelers, offering them a different perspective of the world.

In ancient Greece, those who walked on stilts were called kōlobathristēs, and even then, this practice was not just functional but also spectacular. In the Roman Empire, stories tell of dancers who gracefully performed on stilts, singing praises to the gods.

But it was shepherds, more than anyone else, who made stilts a natural extension of their legs. In southwestern France, across the marshy plains of the Landes region, they moved effortlessly above the treacherous, muddy terrain. With stilts as high as two meters, they watched over their flocks from above, evading snake bites and traveling swiftly between bushes. From their elevated vantage point, they could see the approaching storms before anyone else.

In the heart of Europe, in Namur, Belgium, stilts became a part of daily life. When the Sambre River flooded, citizens used them to walk above the rising waters. Today, to honor this tradition, spectacular jousts and stilt battles take place, so deeply embedded in the local culture that they were recognized as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2021.

Even in distant lands, stilts have left their mark. In southwestern Ethiopia, the Banna people used them to protect themselves from predators while herding cattle. And in the forests of pre-Columbian Mexico, the Maya celebrated the New Year by dancing on towering stilts, as depicted in the Codex Madrid.

What was once a survival tool has now become a symbol of wonder and performance. From Caribbean carnivals, where the “Moko Jumbies” parade in dazzling costumes to ward off evil spirits, to modern city squares, where stilt artists captivate audiences with their acrobatics, the charm of this practice remains alive.

And stilts are not just for entertainment. Some are designed for work: painters and drywall installers use them to reach heights without scaffolding. Others transform movement into play, like spring-loaded stilts that allow users to run, jump, and perform incredible stunts.

Ancient traditions endure as well. In Spain, in the village of Anguiano, men twirl through the narrow streets on stilts half a meter high at the end of July. Their colorful skirts billow in the air as the beat of drums accompanies each spin.

Over the years, stilts have not only been a means of transportation or artistic expression but also a way to push human endurance to the limit. Some remarkable stilt records include:

• In 1891, Sylvain Dornon, a stilt walker from the French region of Landes, walked from Paris to Moscow in just 58 days.
• On October 1, 2001, Saimaiti Yiming from China walked 79.6 km on 73 cm high stilts within 24 hours in Shanshan County, Xinjiang, China.
• On September 14, 2002, Doug Hunt from Canada set the record for walking on the heaviest stilts ever used. Weighing a total of 62.1 kg, he managed to take 29 unassisted steps on stilts that stood at 15.56 meters high.
• On November 15, 2006, Saimaiti Yiming broke the Guinness World Record by walking 10 steps on stilts measuring an astonishing 16.41 meters in height.
• In 2008, Roy Maloy from Australia took five steps on 17-meter-high stilts, setting an unofficial record for the tallest stilts ever walked on.

Today, stilts are no longer a common means of transportation, yet they continue to enchant and inspire, offering us a new way to see the world. Perhaps, deep down, the desire to rise above the ground has never truly disappeared.