The Capital of Tennis: Jeux de Paume as Urban Sport Facilities in Fifteenth- and Sixteenth-Century Paris

Paris emerged as the epicenter of tennis culture during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, with its jeux de paume facilities serving as pivotal urban sport hubs. This study reveals that the city's diverse sociocultural milieus—including royal residences, princely hotels, artisan quarters, and university districts—fueled a steady demand for tennis among both players and spectators, particularly appealing to the aristocracy. The research examines the urbanistic and socioeconomic prerequisites shaping this sport culture while analyzing its economic dynamics. It also explores the ambivalent perceptions of city magistrates and contemporaries, highlighting tensions between leisure activities and urban governance in premodern Paris.

Jaser, C. (2017). The Capital of Tennis: Jeux de Paume as Urban Sport Facilities in Fifteenth- and Sixteenth-Century Paris. Sports and Physical Exercise in Early Modern Culture, 89–107. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315610443-5