Mölkky comes to Samoëns

Mölkky in Samoëns, a taste of Nordic tradition in the heart of Haute-Savoie

A newcomer to the Haut-Giffre mountains is mölkky. On a sunny day or over a local aperitif, this game, straight out of Nordic culture, is a clever blend of skill and a little bit of luck. Played by several players, it’s a great way for everyone to share a good time together. Throughout the summer, Samoëns is the ideal place to come and discover the game and learn how to play wooden skittles at the world-renowned annual competition.

An unusual activity, straight from the Nordic countries, to discover in Haute-Savoie

Mölkky, a friendly game to enjoy with family and friends

Whether you’re playing with adults or younger children, mölkky is one of the best ways to spend a warm summer afternoon. With its simple, easy-to-understand rules, mölkky is a Finnish game that combines strategy, calculation, skill and a good dose of luck. Not classified as a ‘physical’ activity, mölkky can easily be played with friends or family, as children as young as 5 can take part. As for seniors, mölkky is also an excellent way of keeping the upper body moving without being too tiring. There’s something for all the family!

Simple rules to make mölkky accessible to young and old alike
Preparation phase:

The twelve skittles are set up, close together and vertically, facing the players in the order of their number. The throw line is set 3-4 metres from the pins. Once the game is set up, all that’s left to do is play.

How do you play?

During a game of mölkky, the players take it in turns to throw a wooden log to try to knock down the pins standing vertically in front of them. The first player stands behind the line and throws the log at the pins, trying to knock them down. If only one pin falls at the end of the throw, the player’s score is the one recorded on the pin in question. However, if more than one pin falls, then the score is the number of pins that fell during the throw. For example, if player A knocks down the 8-pin, he scores 8 points. If player B knocks down the 3, 9 and 10 pins, he scores 3 points.

Counting the total score :

If a player does not knock down any pins for three consecutive rounds, he is eliminated from the game and takes over the scoring from the other players. The winner of the game is the player who reaches exactly 50 points. If a player exceeds 50 points, he or she drops back to 25 points and continues playing to reach 50 again.

Counting the total scores:

If a player does not touch a pin during three consecutive rounds, he is eliminated from the game and takes over the scoring of the other players. The winner of the game is the player who reaches exactly 50 points. If a player exceeds 50 points, he or she drops back to 25 points and continues playing to reach 50 again.

The village of Samoëns, the international mölkky scene for a weekend

This summer, Samoëns goes Finnish and plays host to the world mölkky championship, much to the delight of beginners and seasoned players alike. Over a whole weekend, this international competition in teams of 4 welcomes over 850 players and brings together more than 16 nations, including many Nordic countries, the sacred land of mölkky. While the competition remains a major challenge for many of the teams, the watchwords for the weekend are conviviality, good humour and sharing a fun game.

Enjoy a game of mölkky after a day in the mountains of Haut-Giffre

The village of Samoëns and its resort are the ideal destination for a family holiday, with a host of activities and discoveries on offer this summer. After the mölkky competition or before, on a sunny day, recharge your batteries and recharge your batteries in the fresh mountain air of Haute-Savoie.

Lac aux Dames is a great place to walk, stroll and relax in front of a breathtaking panorama, away from cars and the noise of everyday life, and offers plenty of space for relaxation, swimming and leisure activities. The lake is also the starting point for short family walks around the village of Samoëns, which are accessible to all, so you can enjoy a beautiful sunny day in front of the spectacle that awaits you. With the mölkky competition, Samoëns has a programme full of surprises in store for you this summer!

Frequently asked questions

Où est située la compétition de mölkky ? Comment s’y rendre ?

The world mölkky championship and all the opening tournaments are just a stone’s throw from the old town of Samoëns at the Lac aux Dames leisure centre. Easily accessible on foot from the town centre, the Lac aux Dames area also has plenty of parking facilities.

Les enfants sont-ils autorisés dans les équipes ?

A friendly game that’s accessible to the youngest players, it’s only natural that children should be allowed on the teams so that families can join in and have a good time together. However, an adult must be present during the matches.

Faut-il réserver pour participer au mondial de mölkky ?

You need to register to take part in the mölkki world tournament. In order to prepare the tournament and the games between each team, we need to know and plan each match. To do this, go to the following link and register your team directly online.

Il y a-t-il d’autres jeux présents sur le week-end ?

The leisure centre and the Bois aux Dames area will be hosting the world mölkky competition, but other games will also be on show over the weekend for young and old alike. An ideal time to discover new games and rediscover classics, the games area will also be at the heart of the weekend’s festivities.