La Fanny Sculpture

Did Fanny ever imagine her derrière would become a Lyon landmark? Here we stand before La Fanny, a bronze sphere perched on a pedestal. It’s more than just a sculpture. It’s a tribute to a Lyon tradition, a playful nod to the game of pétanque, and a cheeky wink to a woman named Fanny. Our story begins in the bustling boulodromes of Lyon. A woman named Fanny charmed the pétanque players. She added a unique twist to the game. Losers had to kiss her posterior. It was a surprising custom, but it stuck. Gérard Truchet, a Croix-Roussien and president of the République des Canuts, confirms Fanny’s impact. Even after she was gone, the tradition lived on. But instead of a real Fanny, a curvaceous statue by Geneviève Böhmer took center stage. Pétanque players at Clos Jouve continued the ritual, kissing the bronze bottom with a playful reverence. Some even sing a Brassens song, “Vénus callipyge,” while honoring the tradition. La Fanny is more than metal. It embodies Lyon’s playful spirit and pétanque’s camaraderie. It’s a cheeky reminder of a tradition that continues to charm. La Fanny stands as a testament to Lyon’s unique history.