Thanks to its unique location, we are flourishing a community space (third place) in the Cévennes, where the level of cortisol, the stress hormone, naturally decreases in our bodies. A place where we can find calm and open up to one another. We believe that in a world of pandemics and wars, it is possible to create small, livable havens of peace. A place where the forest, the stream, and the rhythm of the mountains set the pace. Where architecture, the garden, and history define the atmosphere of creativity and performances, offering a more pleasant climate than the stone-paved cities.
Our priority is to enrich the daily lives of the village’s residents, which range from 500 to 1,500 depending on the season, by creating local opportunities for volunteering and employment.
We share the wonderful, inspiring and fascinating creativity of our artist friends, along with their love for nature, with an open and receptive audience, using culture as a vehicle for social connection. We are working to create a place that becomes attractive and accessible to regional audiences seeking meaningful programs—a place proud of its history and eager to share it. A place where one can immerse themselves in the daily life of this magical, progressive and courageous European country.
Our goal is to create, nurture, and preserve a cultural heritage that evolves over the years. At the Hors du Temps third place, we organize cultural and culinary workshops, professional conferences, short film festivals focusing on sustainable development and climate change, theatrical performances, panel discussions, concerts, artistic and social science residency programs, activities for children and families, as well as theater, yoga, and qi gong camps emphasizing personal well-being.
In the medium and long term, we aim to launch a cultural and culinary festival that would take place in the private homes and courtyards of the Mont Aigoual valley, involving farmers, winemakers, local small and medium-sized businesses and residents. Tentatively titled “Mon Aigoual – A Personal Affair”, this project seeks to remain authentic and deeply rooted in the local community. Each site could host a cultural, educational, performing arts, gastronomic, scientific, ecological, equal opportunities or historical program, including a wide range of professional contributors and performers. The festival would provide fertile ground for promoting an open society, conversations and culture, while enhancing local activities and proactively engaging visitors. In this way, the festival could make directly relevant and personal the peaceful communication, the sharing of knowledge, the distribution of earthly resources, the prioritization of climate protection, and various aspects of culture for both participants and visiting tourists.
