Boules

A traditional boules court in the south of France

When it comes to lawn games and leisure activities the French have the right idea. I spent most of the weekend playing tennis and the game of boules, otherwise known as pétanque, in our back garden. Similar to British lawn bowling or Italian bocce, the French version is traditionally played with metal balls on a dirt surface with a glass of wine or pastis at hand. My kind of game.

Just like horseshoes, boules is extremely simple to play. The game starts with a cochonnet or a small wooden jack. The first player throws the cochonnet (all throwing is underarm) trying to toss the jack 20-30ft (6-10m) down the court. The same player then throws the first boule. The object of the game is to land your boules closer to the cochonnet than those of your opponent. The game is normally played on hard dirt or gravel, but can also be played on grass.

The casual form of the game of pétanque is played by 17 million people in France, mostly during their summer holidays, with more than 500,000 players licensed with the Fédération Française de Pétanque et Jeu Provençal (FFPJP). In France, especially Provence, where pétanque originated, it's common for tourists to learn the game from the locals and take a set back home. A great game for the whole family.

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