Boules balls on the square in front of the building

Boules court next to the Bahnhöfli

Play this traditional French game on the Gurten

A sociable leisure activity

Boules, or pétanque, is a French game that’s easy to pick up and fun to play with friends. The aim is simple: throw your metal balls as close as you can to the small target ball, known as the jack. A little skill, a little strategy – and good company – make it a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

You’ll find the boules court next to the Bahnhöfli outdoor stand on the Gurten. It’s free to use, and you can rent a set of boules from the outdoor stand or the Huusbüffe.

The court was made possible by the Migros Aare Culture Percentage.

April through October	daily, free access
November through March	closed

Use of the boules court	free
Boule rental	CHF 15.– plus deposit (ID required)

Two teams take turns throwing their boules, aiming to land them as close as possible to the small target ball, known as the jack.

Start the game: A player from the starting team throws the jack, then plays the first boule.
Take turns: The team whose closest boule is farther from the jack plays next. They keep throwing until they take the lead or run out of boules.
Choose your tactic: Aim for the jack, knock an opponent’s boule out of the way – or even move the jack itself.
Count the points: Once all the boules have been played, only the team closest to the jack scores. It earns one point for each boule closer to the jack than the other team’s closest boule.
Win the game: The first team to reach 13 points wins.