Petanque/Boules Introduction
Petanque (French pronunciation: [petɑk]) is a form of boules where the goal is to throw hollow metal balls as close as possible to a small wooden ball called a cochonnet (literally "piglet") or jack, while standing inside a starting circle with both feet on the ground.
The roots of the modern game go back to ancient Greece and (subsequently to) Rome. The modern game originated in the early 1900s in Provence, France. The French name 'pétanque' comes from a phrase that means 'feet together' or more exactly 'feet anchored'.
Petanque is becoming very popular with the number of players increasing to around 20 million worldwide. Petanque in not (yet) an Olympic sport.
The roots of the modern game go back to ancient Greece and (subsequently to) Rome. The modern game originated in the early 1900s in Provence, France. The French name 'pétanque' comes from a phrase that means 'feet together' or more exactly 'feet anchored'.
Petanque is becoming very popular with the number of players increasing to around 20 million worldwide. Petanque in not (yet) an Olympic sport.
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Who can play Petanque/Boules? This is a game (sport) that can be enjoyed by all ages and both sexes. It is perfectly fine for a grandparent to play with grandchildren or for men to play with women. It is a game of strategy and skill rather than of strength. Where can one play Petanque/Boules? The game is normally played on hard dirt or gravel, but can also be played on grass, sand or other (not very hard) surfaces. This means that a house's backyard, the (dirt) yard of a village church or school, a spot in a park/playground, a part of a beach where the sand is a bit hard, a dirt road near a stream in an valley are perfect spots to enjoy the game of Petanque with a few friends. |
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Where one should NOT play Petanque/Boules?
The game of Petanque should NEVER be played on hard surfaces like tarmac, cement, tiles etc as playing could probably break the balls (and the surface). Very soft sand, muddy ground, snow and similar are not suitable either as players would be expected to have the possibility of rolling their balls if they choose to. When can one play Petanque/Boules? The game is usually played outdoors. It is perfect for Cyprus moderate climate and can be enjoyed here year round (maybe not when it is very cold). It can be very enjoyable in summer under the shade of trees or during cool evenings. Bad weather (rain or very strong wind) and Petanque do not go well together. |
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What are the rules?
Pétanque is played by two teams, where each team consists of one, two, or three players. In the singles and doubles games each player has three boules (balls); in triples each player has only two. If a game finishes normally, then the team with the closest boule to the jack receives one point for each of its boules that is closer to the jack than the other team's closest boule. A game ends when a team reaches 13 points. Usually a session finishes when a team earns two games. This is obviously a very basic (introductory and incomplete) description.
Why should my hotel promote Petanque?
With almost zero investment, offering the possibility to people to play this game would enrich the menu of experiences that travellers could enjoy during their stay. There are estimates of at least a few tens of millions of people who play the game. It is a game that needs almost no infrastructure. This makes the game environmentally very friendly. Offering this game would also enhance the ecological image of the hotel.
What would the hotel need to do :
a) make sure that there is a place nearby where people can play (this could be a church or a school yard, with dirt or gravel, no cement) that can be publicly accessed.
b) buy the equipment (which could either rent out or give for free against a deposit). A set for two people would cost upto fifty Euro. If there is a need, our company can assist you in the purchase.
c) Keep the reception officers informed about the existence of the game, the hotel equipment, the place where guests can play, etc.
d) annually inform us in writing that it is offering the Petanque game.
Why is Cyprus Walks Etc involved in promoting the game of Petanque in Cyprus
Our company is interested in developing projects that conserve Cyprus nature and preserve Cyprus cultural heritage. Promoting the game of Petanque in rural Cyprus is in line with these.
More info on Petanque/Boules
One can find many sources on the game of Petanque on the internet, including many youtube videoclips.
One can see more information about Petanque here (or here in Greek).
Pétanque is played by two teams, where each team consists of one, two, or three players. In the singles and doubles games each player has three boules (balls); in triples each player has only two. If a game finishes normally, then the team with the closest boule to the jack receives one point for each of its boules that is closer to the jack than the other team's closest boule. A game ends when a team reaches 13 points. Usually a session finishes when a team earns two games. This is obviously a very basic (introductory and incomplete) description.
Why should my hotel promote Petanque?
With almost zero investment, offering the possibility to people to play this game would enrich the menu of experiences that travellers could enjoy during their stay. There are estimates of at least a few tens of millions of people who play the game. It is a game that needs almost no infrastructure. This makes the game environmentally very friendly. Offering this game would also enhance the ecological image of the hotel.
What would the hotel need to do :
a) make sure that there is a place nearby where people can play (this could be a church or a school yard, with dirt or gravel, no cement) that can be publicly accessed.
b) buy the equipment (which could either rent out or give for free against a deposit). A set for two people would cost upto fifty Euro. If there is a need, our company can assist you in the purchase.
c) Keep the reception officers informed about the existence of the game, the hotel equipment, the place where guests can play, etc.
d) annually inform us in writing that it is offering the Petanque game.
Why is Cyprus Walks Etc involved in promoting the game of Petanque in Cyprus
Our company is interested in developing projects that conserve Cyprus nature and preserve Cyprus cultural heritage. Promoting the game of Petanque in rural Cyprus is in line with these.
More info on Petanque/Boules
One can find many sources on the game of Petanque on the internet, including many youtube videoclips.
One can see more information about Petanque here (or here in Greek).
