Listen closely. We are about to uncover a piece of Tourcoing’s soul at Bourloire La Concorde. This isn’t just a building. It’s a living testament to a beloved regional game.
Bourloire La Concorde stands on 2 Rue de Seclin. It is a proud monument historique. The bourloire is protected in its entirety. This includes its playing track.
The protection was decreed on February 5 2003. It is a property of the commune. Bourloire La Concorde dates back to the first half of the 20th century.
But what exactly is a bourloire? And what makes La Concorde so special?
A bourloire is a place where the game of bourle is played. Bourle is a traditional bowling game from the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region. It’s a game with a history as rich as the soil it comes from. The practice of Bourle in Tourcoing was inscribed in 2012 to the Inventory of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Imagine this playing area. It is a curved alley. It measures between 20 and 28 meters long. It is 3 to 3.5 meters wide. Older alleys were made of clay. People mixed cow dung, rye flour, salt and beer into it. Each end has a pit.
Now picture the bourle itself. It is a wooden disc. It is made of gaïac or quebracho wood. It weighs between 4 and 8 kg. But in Tourcoing, the bourles are different. They are made of walnut wood and weigh about 1.8 kg.
The game is all about precision. Players try to get their bourles as close as possible to the stake. This stake is called the “étaque”. Teams strategize. They try to place their bourles to block their opponents.
Bourloire La Concorde is not just a place to play bourle. It is a link to the past. It is a place where tradition lives on. The bourloire stands as a reminder of community. It is a place of friendly competition.
Today, Bourloire La Concorde is one of a handful of bourloires. It is a place where you can still witness this unique sport. The bourloire received its status as a historical monument in 2003.
So next time you are in Tourcoing, take a moment to appreciate Bourloire La Concorde. It is more than just a building. It is a symbol of local heritage. It is a place where the spirit of the game lives on.