I’ve always associated Pétanque with France, in particular the South. Based on countless trips to France, I had an image of old gentlemen enjoying this game in the afternoon sun, possibly after supping on a couple of glasses of pastis. Apologies for the stereotype!

In Castelnaudary, where we have our house, there are four boulodromes or areas to play pétanque. I was surprised to discover that in our village in the Surrey Hills, there are two pétanque clubs. Pétanque is not only played in France! I decided it was time to find out more about this game and here are some fun facts I unearthed:
- The name pétanque comes from la petanca in the Occitan language, deriving from the expression pès tancats meaning “feet together” or more exactly “feet planted on the ground.”
- ‘Boules’ and pétanque are two different names for the same game.
- The metal balls used in the game of pétanque are also called ‘boules’.
- Some sources claim that pétanque can be traced back to the Egyptians. Others suggest that the Ancient Greeks were the first to play games that involved tossing stones or coins.
- The Romans added a target, now known as the jack or cochonnet.
- Theoretically, anyone can play pétanque, irrespective of age or gender.
- Pétanque is very popular in Asia, notably in Thailand.
- The first Pétanque World Championship was held in 1959,
- If you buy a pétanque set in France, you are not allowed to take it on board a plane. The metal boules make them ‘objets interdits’ or ‘forbidden objects’. They have to go in the hold.
- Pétanque is not an Olympic sport but not for want of trying!
- Petanque is pronounced:
Of course, as well as the traditional pétanque sets, there are the coloured, plastic ones. When our sons were small, boules was a much-loved family game. We still play boules, as a family and with friends, when we are in France but we have a ‘proper’ set with metal boules!

Are you a fan of boules or pétanque?

During our European travels we observed boules and/or pétanque being played. A couple of summers ago I learned to play boules at my brother’s house. We had a fun time learning and playing the game!
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It is a very enjoyable and social game. Thanks for dropping by!
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An interesting post June. I’d sometimes wondered if they were the same game or different. Our town is twinned with one in Normandy and they gifted us a Petanque court in our park but I’ve never used it!
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Thanks, Marion. That’s interesting to know that you have a pétanque court in your local park. Do many people use it? I was surprised when I realised the popularity of pétanque in our village!
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June, I came over from #PoCoLo right away because I’ve always wondered about this game! Thanks for sharing!
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Hi Jean. Thanks for dropping by and reading the pétanque blog! I think I might do a future post on the rules of the game. Watch this space! I’m off to read your beef stroganoff recipe😉 #PoCoLo
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We had one of those brightly coloured sets too – so many hours of family fun, so many memories prompted by this post! Thanks for sharing with #PoCoLo
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That’s good to know! Thanks for commenting on my post. #PoCoLo
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