Pétanque, a version of the traditional French game of boules, has left its old image behind in a cloud of dust to become one of the trendiest summer pastimes in France.

As the Associated Press explain, pétanque has long been associated with pastis-guzzling, ‘flat-capped’ old French men, with the only physical exertion involved being the short walk to the end of the gravel track to pick up your boules at the end of a round.

Now though, the century-old French game is rapidly establishing itself as one of the coolest ways for French people to spend the long, hot summer evenings. Young people in particular are starting to embrace pétanque, possibly attracted by the game’s laid-back but highly competitive nature.

It is thought that around 15 million French people now regularly play pétanque, and the game’s popularity is said to be spreading around the globe. One English pétanque enthusiast explained why he feels so many Britons are becoming captivated by the game.

“Being English, I think it’s the closest thing to cricket,” John Morrison told the Associated Press.

“It’s a very relaxing way of passing the afternoon,” he added.

For any Britons on a French holiday this year wishing to give pétanque a try, The Guardian recently published a number of useful tips for success. Above all, players are advised to ditch their allegedly characteristic ‘British timidity’ and adopt a more ‘aggressive’ Gallic approach.

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