Bally fun: game of boules delights in the Welzheim city park!

Bally fun: game of boules delights in the Welzheim city park!

A lively game of boules took place in Welzheim's city park, which impressed not only with the participants but also with the unique ambience of French flair. Among the players were Thomas Klein, Wolfram Heß, Peter Fleischmann and the author herself. The event made it clear that this game, which is deeply rooted in French culture, brings people of all ages together and is valued as a social experience.

The game of boules has a long history, dating back to the 14th century. How ZVW According to reports, Charles V imposed a ban on the game of boules because he was of the opinion that it endangered state security. Historically, soldiers played boules to discourage archery. However, the fascination for this game remains unbroken to this day and is attributed not least to the game's addictive potential.

The diversity of the game of boules

Boule games such as Pétanque, Boule Lyonnaise or Jeu Provençal all belong to the same family of sports that became popular sports, especially in the 19th century in Italy, Great Britain and France. Loud Joke Heroes Boule These games gained in importance over the course of the 19th century through the establishment of clubs and competitions. The Jeu de Pétanque, which is one of the best-known variants today, was created in 1910.

Pétanque, which is derived from Provençal, is played on a rectangular playing field that should be at least 4 m x 15 m in size. The first rules for pétanque were established in June 1910. Pétanque is now played not only in France, but also internationally. The game gained popularity in Germany after the Second World War and the first pétanque club was founded in 1963.

The rise of pétanque in Germany

Today there is a German Ball Sports Association in Germany, which was founded in 1980. This association organizes the game under the umbrella of the Pétanque Association. The popularity has increased significantly in recent years. It is estimated that around 5 to 8 million French people are actively involved in the game of pétanque. The French association reports around 500,000 player licenses issued.

The game of boules is easy to learn and promises a lot of fun and sociability. The play equipment itself is balls made of electrically welded steel, with a diameter of 70 to 78 mm and a weight of 650 to 800 g. In addition, the price range for boules balls is very variable, from 25 euros for simple models to 130 euros for high-quality versions.

So the game of boules, or pétanque, remains a sociable game that is very popular in many German cities. Be it in city parks or roadside cafes, the game of boules remains an expression of a social way of life that goes beyond the game.