Autour des Rencontres Philosophiques de Langres
Philosophy for everyone in the hometown of Denis Diderot
2026
About Rencontres Philosophiques de Langres
Rencontres Philosophiques de Langres — edition 2026
The 16th edition of the Rencontres philosophiques de Langres takes place from October 1st to 11th, 2026, in the birthplace of Denis Diderot. This year's theme is the body. For ten days, philosophers, researchers, teachers, artists, and the general public will gather for conferences, round tables, shows, participatory workshops, and philosophical walks. The opening lecture on October 3rd at the Théâtre Michel-Humbert will feature Paralympic swimmer Charles Rozoy and philosopher Jean-Luc Marion discussing the body put to the test by sport. The complete program (around sixty events) is published by the ARPL association and the City of Langres.
Programme Rencontres Philosophiques de Langres 2026
October 1st to 3rd
- 10 conferences and seminars — National Training Program (PNF) of the Ministry of National Education and Youth: ten conferences and seminars selected by the Ministry's philosophy group. Primarily reserved for PNF participants, but open to the public without registration, subject to availability · Salle Jean-Favre, New Vox cinema, and Hôtel de Ville rooms · free · recorded and subsequently uploaded to eduscol.education.fr
Saturday, October 3rd
- Opening lecture — The body put to the test by sport: between flesh and transcendence · Théâtre Michel-Humbert · with Charles Rozoy (Paralympic swimmer, 2012 London Paralympic champion) and Jean-Luc Marion (philosopher, Académie française) · open to all, duration 1h30, booking required, free
- Philo Yoga · Salle Panoramique at Salle Jean-Favre · a guided yoga session with Aline Bournery (Yoga Shanti), interspersed with excerpts from Montaigne's Essays read by actor Jérôme Hudeley (Cie Ça Change Un Peu!) · ages 15 and up, duration 1h30, booking required, free, please bring a mat and cushion
October 3rd to 11th
- Guided tour of the Maison des Lumières Denis Diderot collections · open to all, duration 1h30, no booking required, free
Weekend of October 10th and 11th
- Philo-heritage walks: the body in the city · Meet at the Escale philo · with Stéphane Marcireau and David Covelli (Pays de Langres Heritage Department), a philosopher and a historian share their perspectives · open to all, duration 1h30, no booking required, free
- L'Escale philo: philosophy in action · Cathedral cloister courtyard · meetings, stands, books, workshops, quizzes, round tables, and a refreshment area, free
Saturday, October 10th
- The 3 Little Pigs · Parvis Jean-Duvet · a participatory show brought to life by Maïlys Horiot based on the traditional tale · ages 5 and up, duration 30 min, no booking required, free
Ongoing (October 1st, 2026 – April 5th, 2027)
- Faire corps: the Volot collection visits the museum · Musée d'Art et d'Histoire · around twenty contemporary works focusing on the body and its representation (Ernest Pignon-Ernest, Marc Petit, Lydie Arickx, Stéphane Blanquet, Louise Giamari, Joël-Peter Witkin…), in partnership with the Centre d'art contemporain d'Auberive (Abbaye d'Auberive collection), free
The full program for the 2026 edition (featuring around sixty events: conferences, round tables, shows, workshops, and walks) is published by the ARPL and the City of Langres in a brochure; the events listed above are those individually confirmed to date, as other events from the full program could not be verified in detail from an open source.
Prices Rencontres Philosophiques de Langres 2026
Practical information — Rencontres Philosophiques de Langres
Access to Langres
Langres is located in the Haute-Marne department, in the Grand Est region, about 260 km southeast of Paris and 100 km north of Dijon.
- By car: A31 motorway (Langres Sud exit), A5 from Paris via Troyes. Free parking near the historic center.
- By train: Langres station on the Paris-Bâle line (TER Grand Est). Allow about 2.5 hours from Paris-Est via TGV to Chaumont then TER connection.
Festival venues
Events take place in various emblematic locations within the fortified city of Langres:
- Maison des Lumières Denis Diderot – exhibitions and conferences
- Salle Jean-Favre – conferences and round tables
- Théâtre de Langres – live performances
- Historic city center – philosophical walks and street entertainment
- Médiathèque Marcel-Arland – workshops and meetings
Prices
The vast majority of festival events are offered free of charge or by voluntary donation. Some performances may be subject to specific ticketing. Consult the detailed program on the official website.
Accommodation
Langres has several hotels, bed and breakfasts, and gîtes within the fortified city and its surroundings. It is advisable to book in advance during the festival period.
Contact
Association Autour des Rencontres Philosophiques de Langres (ARPL)
Address: Maison du Pays de Langres, Square Olivier-Lahalle, 52200 Langres
Phone: 03 25 87 60 34
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.autour-rencontres-philosophiques-langres.com
Philosophy within everyone's reach in the city of Diderot
Born in 2011, the Rencontres Philosophiques de Langres constitute a training program included in the National Training Plan of the Ministry of National Education and Youth, intended for philosophy teachers and inspectors from all over France. Alongside this institutional action, the City of Langres and the association Autour des Rencontres Philosophiques de Langres (ARPL) deploy an ambitious cultural program accessible to all for about ten days.
An annual event around a universal theme
Each year, a philosophical theme unites the entire program. Since the first edition dedicated to Truth in 2011, the Encounters have explored fundamental subjects: Freedom (2012), Matter and Spirit (2013), History (2014), Politics (2016), Nature (2017), Art (2018), Time (2019), Language, Justice, Sensitivity (2023), Creation (2024), and Violence (2025). These major philosophical questions are addressed in a wide variety of formats accessible to the general public.
A multidisciplinary program
The festival offers a rich and varied program that goes far beyond academic conferences:
- Conferences and round tables led by renowned philosophers, researchers, and intellectuals
- Live performances: theater, dance, artistic performances related to the annual theme
- Exhibitions in the city's heritage sites, particularly the Maison des Lumières Denis Diderot
- Film screenings and philosophical film-debates
- Participatory workshops: flash-philosophy, philosophy cafés, philosophical practice workshops for all ages
- Philo-heritage walks to discover Langres and Diderot's legacy
- Ephemeral philosophy bookstore offering books and signings
In the footsteps of Denis Diderot
Langres, a fortified city perched on a rocky outcrop in Haute-Marne, is the birthplace of Denis Diderot, born on October 5, 1713. It is around this anniversary date that the Encounters are held each year, paying homage to the encyclopedic spirit and insatiable curiosity of the Enlightenment philosopher. The city houses the Maison des Lumières Denis Diderot, the only museum in Europe dedicated to the philosopher, which actively participates in the festival's program.
National and international reach
The Rencontres Philosophiques de Langres attract several thousand participants each year: researchers, teachers, trainers, as well as enlightened amateurs and curious spectators from all over France. The event benefits from the support of the Ministry of National Education, the Grand Est Region, the Department of Haute-Marne, and the City of Langres. This event contributes to the cultural influence of Langres and the democratization of philosophical thought.
Living and accessible philosophy
The originality of the Encounters lies in their desire to make philosophy accessible to the greatest number. Far from the strictly academic framework, the festival takes over the streets, squares, museums, and performance halls of Langres to offer a living, embodied, and participatory philosophy. Almost all events are offered free of charge or by donation, demonstrating the organizers' commitment to access to culture and thought for all.
Where does it take place — Rencontres Philosophiques de Langres
Rencontres Philosophiques de Langres in brief
History of Rencontres Philosophiques de Langres
Edition 2025 Oct 2025Other festivals near Langres
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