BOULES BERNERIENNES

Both boule bernerienne and boule tharonnaise are specific to their respective towns, La Bernerie-en-Retz and Tharon in Saint-Michel-chef-Chef. The uninitiated might think of it as a cross between pétanque and bowling (for the size of the balls); the more experienced will recognize two variants of boule Nantaise. The game gradually spread to the Côte de Jade with the arrival of tourists from Nantes, who came to sample the ferruginous waters from the 1820s onwards, followed by sea bathing at the end of the 19th century. Tourists in search of entertainment flocked to the cafés and casinos, which offered musical programs, games (parcheesi, dice, cards, etc.) and, later, cinema. To satisfy their customers' passion for the game of boules, these establishments built courts, usually in their cellars. The practice evolved, and some towns, such as La Bernerie-en-Retz, introduced their own version of jeu de boules. The boule bernerienne is played with balls measuring just over 11cm in diameter and weighing 1.2kg. They have a hole in the middle to enable them to be picked up. Originally made of wood, the balls are now made of resin, which is more resistant. Wood had a tendency to ovalize over time. The center of the field is delimited by a white and a red line, and the "petit" (equivalent to the "cochonnet" in pétanque) serves as the goal, to be thrown between these lines. Players aim to get their balls as close to the ?petit? as possible. The game is highly codified, particularly the moment of release. The player must never throw the ball, but must roll it from the tip of the supporting foot, with the other foot touching the heel of the ball. An individual game is played to a winning score of nine points, and eleven points in competitions. For a three-player game, each player has two boules, while for a "one-on-one" game, each player has three boules. From the 1950s onwards, as the number of casinos and dancing cafés dwindled, the courts disappeared with them. In 1985, the association "Les Amis de la boule bernerienne" was created to preserve the local game and set the rules. The association has two playing fields, built with the help of the commune. Since 2012, boule bernerienne has been listed as part of France?s ?intangible cultural heritage? The association has over a hundred enthusiasts, and organizes introductory courses to introduce the game to as many people as possible.