Lu z'Arpelauds

Lu z’Arpelauds is a community group based around Roussillon in northern Isère, France, dedicated to promoting and preserving the local Dauphinois variety of Francoprovençal. Active since 1990, the group brings people together to speak the regional language, share local heritage and introduce the patois to new audiences. Its activities include theatre, music, exhibitions and cultural events, often combining patois with French.

The group stages performances such as the Nuits des Arpelauds, featuring original bilingual comedies and collections of sketches and songs, delivered by performers of varied ages and backgrounds. Its shows use humor and local expressions to explore everyday life and contemporary themes. Visitors can also discover the language through articles, recorded readings and sound-enabled texts on the group’s website.

At the Maison du patois et du patrimoine in La Chapelle de Surieu, Lu z’Arpelauds hosts events and exhibitions, including displays of creative reuse made from old objects. The association also offers a patois dictionary, CDs and DVDs, and welcomes audiences to performances, heritage activities and other community gatherings