LOOP
in Digne-les-Bains

Sommet des philosophes

Family hike to discover one of the inspiring works of the artist Herman de Vries* located at the foot of the Dourbes bar. The summit of philosophers, is part of the project traces a series of gold leaf engravings on stone.

Route details

Digne-les-Bains
Loop
Yellow (PR)
Registered with the PDIPR
Mountain view, Panoramic view, In the forest, In the mountains

Description

These engravings, made from 2001, are spread over several sites in the Digne region; searching for them is a very poetic way to discover this region. Herman de Vries* is a naturalist by profession. His view of the world is strongly influenced by Eastern philosophy. For him, nature is sufficient in itself and does not need to be embellished by art: "nature is art", he says, because it is perpetual creation.

Here, on a hillock at the foot of the Barre des Dourbes, the names of twelve philosophers have been engraved on rocks around the one bearing the word reau (real in Provençal). Their location materializes in space the distance between their thought and reality. The walker is thus invited to engage in a physical experience and a philosophical quest between East and West…

*we respect the artist's wish not to use capital letters, a form of hierarchy

Find the full description of the route in the Topo guide “Art in the mountains, 22 hikes to discover contemporary art in the Haute-Provence Geopark” (€15), available at the reception of the Gassendi Museum, the Maison Alexandra David-Néel, and the tourist office.

Suggestions

Near…

Address

Avenue François Cuzin
04000 Digne-les-Bains
How do I get there?
Free parkingParkingPedestrian sportsHiking route
DifficultyEasyDuration01h30Elevation150 D +Distance3,5 kmMax Altitude600 m
To download

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