Petanque

Petanque is a great game for days when energy levels are low or when it's too hot to be running around....the hotel will provide instructions if you haven't played it before and there are numerous places to play on the flat grass surrounding the tennis court and chalets.

Two balls and a jack were unearthed in the sarcophagus of an Egyptian Prince of the 52nd Century B.C. Thus there is archaeological evidence that a form of pétanque was played over seventy centuries ago. Subsequently there have been historical references in both France and England at the time of Edward the Third and Elizabeth the First. What else could Drake have played on the Hoe at Plymouth? It is fact that a game played with cannon balls the size of cricket balls, was very popular with both soldiers and sailors at that time. In 1910 a new version was developed in the small town of La Ciotat, near Marseilles. Interestingly it was adapted from a similar game of the time to enable a handicapped player to participate. It is this version that has become the standard throughout the world played to a set of internationally recognised rules.

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