Registration for Historic Monuments 5 février 2003 (≈ 2003)
Total protection with its tracks.
1er quart du XXe siècle
Construction of the kettle
Construction of the kettle 1er quart du XXe siècle (≈ 2025)
Period of creation of the monument.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The bourloire in its entirety, with its two tracks of play (cf. HW 75): registration by order of 5 February 2003
Origin and history
The Bourloire Saint-Charles, located in Tourcoing in the Nord department, is an emblematic monument of the early twentieth century. This traditional game, still called "bourle" or "bourle game", consists of throwing a metal ball on dirt tracks, a popular practice in the Hauts-de-France. The site, including its two playgrounds, was listed as a Historic Monument by order of 5 February 2003, emphasizing its heritage and cultural importance for the commune and the region.
The bourloire is located at 27 rue de Strasbourg, although GPS coordinates suggest a nearby location at 17 Bis on the same street. Property of the municipality of Tourcoing, this monument illustrates the local attachment to fun and community traditions, typical of Nord-Pas-de-Calais. These games, often linked to local festivals or social gatherings, played a central role in the lives of the inhabitants at the beginning of the twentieth century, a period marked by increasing industrialization and a strong worker identity.
The accuracy of the bourloire location is considered "passable" (note 5/10), which may reflect urban changes or site adaptations over time. Despite this minor geographical uncertainty, the monument remains a concrete testimony of popular leisure and sociability in northern France at the turn of the century. Its registration as a Historical Monument guarantees its preservation and enhancement for future generations.
No information is available concerning the opening to the public, the visit, or any associated services (room rental, accommodation). Sources are limited to Monumentum data and the administrative references of the Merimée database, without further details of its current use or accessibility.
