Remember the satisfying thud of a perfectly thrown bourle. That’s the sound of tradition echoing through Bourloire Saint-Louis. This isn’t just any building. It is a living testament to a beloved regional sport. Let’s step inside this historic monument and delve into the world of bourle.
Bourloire Saint-Louis is more than a place to play a game. It’s a cultural landmark deeply rooted in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France. Here, the spirit of bourle thrives. Bourle is a game with a history stretching back centuries. The earliest recorded mention dates back to 1382. An extract from the banns of Lille prohibited the game on public highways. Those who disobeyed faced a fine.
Imagine the scene. Flemings working on the canalization of the Loire in Anjou. They passed their leisure time throwing logs into dug-out trenches. Some say this is how bourle began. Others believe Flemings brought the game from Anjou playing it in the holds of sailing ships. Regardless of its exact origin the game gained immense popularity. Wattrelos was once considered a mecca for bourle boasting 200 bourloires.
The word “bourle” itself is steeped in local dialect. “Bourler” in Picardic means “to stagger and fall”. This hints at the movement of the ball. The game is played on a specialized alley called a bourloire. These were originally open-air spaces. Today most are covered.
Let’s talk about the bourle itself. This isn’t your average ball. It’s a large asymmetrical wheel. Traditionally made of guaiac wood from Latin America it can weigh up to 9 kilos. Modern bourles are sometimes made of canevasite. This is a synthetic resin ensuring longevity. Its asymmetrical shape makes it zigzag. The bourloire track ends in a ditch or “tchu”. This collects stray balls. About 1.5 meters from each end is the “étaque” a metal piece embedded in the ground. This serves as a fixed jack. Older tracks were made of soil, cow dung, sand, salt, and beer. Newer ones use synthetic surfaces.
Now for the rules. Two teams of two to six players face off. Each team has a captain scorers and batsmen. The goal is simple get your bourles closest to the “étaque”. The first team throws. They try to place their bourles near the “étaque”. Teammates then attempt to create obstacles to block the opposing team. The opposing team then tries to “jo”. This means taking the point. They navigate around obstacles using the slopes of the track. Hitters or “butcheux” forcefully remove obstructing bourles. One point is scored for each ball closest to the “claque”.
Bourloire Saint-Louis stands as a proud reminder of this tradition. Here you can almost hear the echoes of past games. The cheers the friendly rivalries and the satisfying thud of a well-aimed bourle. Take a moment to appreciate this unique piece of local heritage. It’s a testament to the enduring power of community and the simple joy of a game well-played.