I saw this garde-champêtre ("rural policeman," my dictionary says) last year at the Comédie du livre (big book exhibit/market). He was asking money from the participants in the market, or maybe he was just an actor. I need to inquire...
I had not seen a garde-champêtre in decades. I don't know whether this one was "real" but he was wearing a real garde-champêtre uniform.
When I hear of gardes-champêtres, I can't help thinking of that terrible nursery rhyme (I am not sure it is a nursery rhyme actually): le garde-champêtre qui p.. qui p..., qui prend son cul pour une trompette... Kids!
