 Pétanque originally developed as an offshoot or variant of "jeu provençal" in 1910, in what is now called the "Jules Lenoir Boulodrome" in the town of La Ciotat near Marseilles.A former "jeu provençal" player named Jules Lenoir was afflicted by rheumatism so severe that he could no longer run before throwing a boule.In fact, he could barely stand.