Any player from the coin toss winning team then throws the first boule. You’re aim is to get as close as possible to the “cochonnet” but without touching it. Both feet must stay together on the ground and within the circle while throwing and until the boule has landed. Although rarely practiced in friendly games, it’s good to know this rule in case your French opponents want to make the game more serious! The game is played between two teams of 1, 2 or 3 players. In singles or doubles each player uses 3 boules, in triples 2 boules per player. For leisure play it’s okay to use 2 boules per player of any number. A circle or area is drawn by the winner of the coin toss (or a member of his/her team). When throwing the boule, you must not step out of the ring. The circle should be about 0.5m in diameter and at least 1m from any obstacle. To start, a coin is generally tossed to decide who begins the game and has the right to place the cochonnet (the small ball). If you haven’t got a cochonnet to hand, a stone or cork from a bottle is usual! Look harder and you’ll see a succession of little inlets all the way along the coast beyond the ports of Pouliguen and Pornichet. Along the coastal path are beaches that are favourite haunts of locals, such as the one at Bonne-Source. New ideas blown in with the yachts

Boules! The chances are when you are in France you will either want to play boules or you will be invited to play boules whether you want to or not! The game is traditionally played with metallic balls on a dirt surface (as long as it’s flat and level) with a glass of pastis or wine at hand. Many villages throughout France have a boules playing area. It’s a social focal point for neighbours to meet, play or watch the world go by.

Before its debut, nothing like La Boule had ever been done before! This avant-garde piece was an extreme challenge, both technically and in terms of design. It is typical for blanks to become smaller during the firing stage of production but with La Boule, not all the pieces were shrinking to the same extent. The production team had to work with and around this to bring La Boule to life! Combining Both Art and Functionality The purpose of the game is to win by throwing your balls to land closer to the small ball (cochonnet which literally means piglet) than those of your opponent. Sounds easy but it isn’t always! To help you here are the main rules for playing boules/la pétanque: Usually someone produces a tape measure or some means of rule to identify who is nearest to the cochonnet if it’s not glaringly obvious. Without it there can be lively debate! For the holiday season, the Toy’s Delight La Boule matches our festive Toy’s Delight tableware collection, with a classic holiday color scheme of green, white, red and gold and featuring whimsical holiday motifs. Toy’s Delight La Boule

Best of all, without a doubt, is the vast La Baule beach. Its fine sand sweeps round in a semicircle facing the sea. Paddling along the sea’s edge is great fun; children get together in the beach clubs and grown-ups swim in the gently lapping water, while at low tide there’s plenty of space for beach games. You’ll see people in their striped Breton sweaters walking along the promenade, or jogging, plugged in to their smartphones, or cycling along with the wind in their hair. The winner of the coin toss throws the cochonnet between 4m and 8m, or 6 to 10 paces from the circle in any direction. It must not be closer than 1m from any obstacle or you have to throw again.