Les Joutes Provencales

I am always a sucker for anything that might fall under the heading of “local color”.

Here on the Southern Coast of France, there exist a rather unusual sport known as les Joutes Provencale. Now, I have known of this activity for some years now, but have never witnessed an actual competition, just the practice “laps” here in the harbor.

The competition dating back to Greco-Roman times, takes place on colorfully painted wooden boats of Phoenician origins, a common fishing vessel in these parts. The Joutes boats, however, are somewhat distinctive and immediately recognizable by the odd-looking extension at the rear.

The English translation for joutes would be joust, and yes, these joust take place on the water.

The two teams boats face off against one another, each jouster stands atop a plateau located at the end of that odd looking extension on the rear of the joutes boats, known as the teinteine. Each holds a long wooden lance in their right hand, the goal being to knock their opponent off the teinteine and into the water by striking them with this lance. Each is protected by a padded wooden breastplate and holds a little wooden box on their left hand to prevent them from grabbing the lance of their opponent.

I am positively not making this up!

From May-September, all along this coast, the villages sponsor joutes teams who meet for competitions. This morning, while heading out for our morning walk, Sandy and I happened across just such a competition down in the harbor. Big crowd yelling and cheering on their respective teams, judges in a tent, the joutes boats approaching with jousters at the ready. And... splash!  Damn!  Don’t have my camera. Sandy volunteers to run back to the apartment for the camera.

Now, you might expect that this would be a man’s sport, but... young men/ boys, even young women/girls are here to compete. By the time Sandy returns with the camera, the adult men’s competition has concluded. My photos capture the younger male and female competitors. Perhaps, not quite as sure of themselves, but it is exciting to watch young jousters face-off. Les joutes Provencales will , as it has for centuries, live on for yet another generation.

The video is courtesy of Sandy:

The teams salute at the beginning of competition

The engagement

Knocked-off