Petanque in CannesYou may know it as Boules, the most popular game in France. In Cannes it is played near the old port and in the Place de l'Étang, Palm Beach or at La Bocca behind the market. Beg, borrow or steal a set of boules - they are a bit heavy in the luggage - and get playing. Contact the president of the Boule Club of Les Allees, opposite the old port if you want to play there, as individuals or a group. It costs 5 euros per person for equipment hire, lane reservation and an introductory lesson for groups. For another 5 euros pp you can have a provencal drink and nibbles. The club will also organise a tournament for you. Send email with date and numbers to association.bouliste.des.allees@gmail.com At Palm Beach if there is an unoccupied alley, you can play on it. Just avoid tournaments! |
Petanque or is it Boules?
Game of Petanque.
The game was invented in the early 20th century by Jules Lenoir who was arthritic and found difficulty moving. It was originally called ped tanca - Provençal for feet together. See museum in Vallauris |
The Rules of Petanques
The game is played from alternate ends of an alley. The object is to amass points at each ‘end’. The winner is the team which first achieves 13 points.
You can play it with one, two or three players on each side. With teams of one or two players, each player has three boules whereas for teams of three players, each has two boules.
Each ‘end’ starts with the little wooden jack (cochonnet) being thrown a distance down the alley. The first player throws his boule. A member of the opposite team then throws his boule. Whichever is nearest to the jack is ‘holding the point’. The team not ‘holding the point’ throws another boule and the game continues in the same way - always it is the team not ‘holding the point’ which throws a boule. When all boules have been thrown, the boule nearest the jack earns a point for its team. If the same team has the second nearest boule, two points are scored. No points are scored by the opposing team.
Tip: Hitting an opponent’s boule is very much a part of the game, as is hitting the jack.
That’s it...?
There are all sorts of rules about choosing the throwing place, how far the jack may be thrown and how long between throws. If you are interested consult Brief Rules of Petanque.
If you want to know when a boule is out of bounds, what constitutes bad behaviour during a game and the penalties for late arrivals, go to a 10 page document at Official Rules of the
You can play it with one, two or three players on each side. With teams of one or two players, each player has three boules whereas for teams of three players, each has two boules.
Each ‘end’ starts with the little wooden jack (cochonnet) being thrown a distance down the alley. The first player throws his boule. A member of the opposite team then throws his boule. Whichever is nearest to the jack is ‘holding the point’. The team not ‘holding the point’ throws another boule and the game continues in the same way - always it is the team not ‘holding the point’ which throws a boule. When all boules have been thrown, the boule nearest the jack earns a point for its team. If the same team has the second nearest boule, two points are scored. No points are scored by the opposing team.
Tip: Hitting an opponent’s boule is very much a part of the game, as is hitting the jack.
That’s it...?
There are all sorts of rules about choosing the throwing place, how far the jack may be thrown and how long between throws. If you are interested consult Brief Rules of Petanque.
If you want to know when a boule is out of bounds, what constitutes bad behaviour during a game and the penalties for late arrivals, go to a 10 page document at Official Rules of the