The Chemin des Sages project was born during a meeting of the Council of Elders, composed of 9 women and 9 men aged 60 and over, chosen for their wise experience by the municipal councilors. On that day, the topic of discussion was how to bring our republican motto, "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity," to life.
The birth of the Path of the Sages
The idea arose that scattering quotes from illustrious men and women , renowned worldwide for their wisdom and humanism , throughout the town could resonate with both locals and tourists. To justify this bold and innovative project to the Mayor and the Town Council, the decision was made to link this route to the historical plaques that were to be installed on the town's iconic monuments. The members of the Council of Elders then determined the path through the medieval village and worked on the materials, texts, images, and symbols for these plaques.
The butterfly symbol was chosen because it represents joy, beauty, grace, and the lightness of being. It evokes the power of personal transformation through its strong capacity for rebirth. Indeed, before becoming a butterfly, this insect is first an egg, then a caterpillar, then a chrysalis, and finally a butterfly. Each new stage symbolizes a change in life, letting go of who you were to appreciate who you have become. As a symbol of wisdom, this animal is a source of inspiration in life. Beneath its fragile appearance,
The butterfly possesses great strength. Indeed, its life is ephemeral (lasting from a few days to a few weeks), and yet it spreads joy and good cheer through the grace and beauty of its flight, appreciating every moment that nature offers. So why not be like the butterfly, approaching with confidence everything that life offers us , good or bad experiences, because after all, it only lasts a moment? Aren't these past experiences the best preparation for the future , allowing us to move forward with greater serenity on life's path?
Plato's Biography
Considered the inventor of philosophy, founder of the academy.
Plato was born around 427 BC into an aristocratic family and died around 347 BC. He seemed destined for a political career in his youth , spending eight years with Socrates . He traveled throughout the Mediterranean , meeting philosophers and mathematicians. Plato is one of the major philosophers of Western thought , and of Greek Antiquity in particular. The pedagogical method that Plato presents as Socrates' philosophical legacy , "maieutics," consists of helping minds give birth to their own knowledge.
His work, primarily in the form of dialogues, presents itself as a rigorous search for truth, without any limitations on its scope. His reflections encompass politics , morality , aesthetics , and science. Confidence in humanity's capacity to know reality is what constitutes the unity of Plato's work. Against the Sophists, who teach the art of persuasion and pleasing , Plato poses the question of true discourse . Reality is knowable; humankind is not limited to its impressions: through what it senses, it can access a reality that transcends it. His work thus unfolds in two complementary directions: on the one hand, seeking the truth about specific realities (justice, the world, for example); on the other hand, seeking to justify the very possibility of knowing the truth.
In Athens, he founded a school, the first school of philosophy , in the gardens of Academus: the Academy, based on the Pythagorean model. The Academy's influence was considerable, and people came from all over the Greek world to acquire a philosophy whose avowed aim was political: to establish justice.
Gambetta Square, heart of the village
Gambetta Square is a central gathering place where people come to play pétanque in the summer and enjoy concerts by local bands. Before the war, an operetta inspired by the lives of the town's inhabitants was performed there. The square is surrounded by hotels where one can stay overnight and enjoy meals , often featuring game brought in by hunters. Lively pétanque games take place in the square, accompanied by colorful language that blends Provençal and French.
Gambetta Square was carved into the schist of the hill around 1760 and was once the central point where all the roads leading into the village converged. During the five days of the Pentecost festival in May, Gambetta Square is transformed into a "green hall." It is decorated by municipal employees with a green curtain of Aleppo pines, and tricolor flags fly from tall poles. People come to dance on a dance floor set up for the occasion, even at night, illuminated by strings of lights. Tangos , waltzes, and javas follow one another in front of the crowded terraces, offering a brief respite of lightness and carefree abandon in the daily life marked by the hard work in the fields.
The Bar du Progrès is a political meeting place where assemblies are held. Its hall can accommodate over a hundred participants and prospective voters , and all subjects are discussed there seriously, often sparking lively debates, particularly when hunting is involved. In the 40s, the bar's owner had made it the main newspaper distribution point. The Hôtel Bellevue gained renown in 1925 after being described in a novel by the former doctor turned novelist, Luc Durtain , under the name Hôtel Beausite. The hotel was already a central location, serving as the finish line for the famous "Bormes Hill Climb," a motor race that began in 1908.
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