By department
Best-equipped towns
- Toulouse 6
- Bordeaux 6
- Montpellier 6
- Lyon 5
- Nice 5
- Marseille 3
- Annecy 3
- Paris 2
- Rennes 2
- Grenoble 2
- La Ciotat 2
- Mérignac 1
- Lille 1
- Nantes 1
- Strasbourg 1
- Saint-Étienne 1
- Clermont-Ferrand 1
- Brest 1
- Fort-de-France 1
Country-specific rules
Every owner of a sports facility, local councils included, must declare it to the authorities so it can be recorded. That census feeds the Data ES database run by the French ministry for sport, one of the sources Oukonjou relies on.
Under the French Public Health Code (Article R.1336-5), no noise may disturb the peace of the neighbourhood through its duration, repetition or intensity. The mayor can set opening hours for a public court by municipal order, particularly in the evening.
Good to know
- Never stand in front of the circle or in the line of a shot: a steel boule weighs several hundred grams.
- Only throw when the lane is clear, including the gaps between neighbouring courts.
- If others are waiting, offer to share the lane or hand it over when your game ends.
Read the full guide: pétanque courts →
FAQ
How many pétanque courts are there in France?
Oukonjou lists 50 free-access ones, in 19 towns.
Where are the most pétanque courts in France?
The best-equipped towns are Toulouse (6), Bordeaux (6) and Montpellier (6).
How do I find the nearest pétanque court?
Open the map, pick “Pétanque courts” and tap “Near me”: the list sorts by distance. Your position stays in your browser.
Do I need to book or pay?
No. The pétanque courts listed here are reported as free access: free of charge and no booking, within the rules posted on site (hours, age, sharing).
Data updated on November 2, 2026