Sport

Cretan Petanque Festival 2026

A week of boules under the pines at Agioi Apostoloi, from a beginners' coaching stage to a €800 final.

The Chania Petanque and Mölkky Club has a permanent seven-lane arena in the park at Agioi Apostoloi, with seats and tables around it, and for one week in September it fills with players from across Europe. The week opens on the Monday with a coaching stage run by Remy Galleau at €10 a head, which is the way in if you have never thrown a boule and want to learn from someone who genuinely knows. After that it turns competitive: a 2v2 melee on Tuesday, 2v2 choisie on Thursday, precision shooting on Friday, and the 3v3 mixed Bol d'Or across the weekend with €800 for the winners. Wednesday is left free for excursions. It is a good spectator sport in the shade, and the club is welcoming to people who wander over to watch.