The game of pétanque

Weekly Topic: A popular game you would play in summer in your country.

Véronique

If you have already been in Provence, you have probably seen people playing pétanque.
In most Provencal villages, there is a pétanque ground usually under the plane trees and where the townsfolk gather to play.
The word pétanque is Provencal and its origins come from the word petanca, which means “feet anchored”. The game in its’ present day format started in La Ciotat (on the Mediterranean coast) in 1907.
The concept of pétanque is straightforward; the player standing with both feet on the ground tosses hollow metal balls towards a smaller wooden or plastic ball called the cochonnet or piglet. The player closest to the little ball wins the point. The game can be played with two players or up to six players (two teams of three).

Pétanque is a symbol of Provence, like the Pastis and cicadas, a part of our national culture.

This column was published by the author in their personal capacity.
The opinions expressed in this column are the author's own and do not reflect the view of Cafetalk.

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