“LES ENTRETIENS” IN 7 DATES

THE HISTORY OF “LES ENTRETIENS” IN 7 DATES

It was back in 2003 that Jérôme Chartier, who was then actively involved in politics, realised that there was a lack of forums for intra- and inter-social discussion. He launched ‘Les Entretiens’ movement and, in response to a request from the President of the Royaumont Foundation to host an event at Royaumont Abbey devoted to debate, created ‘Les Entretiens de Royaumont’. The first debates, which were intended to be unrestricted, enlightened and serene, were held in this place imbued with the vision inspired by Saint Louis.
From the very first year, the program was distinguished by the organisers’ insistence on demanding content and speakers who were prepared to accept the challenge. The theme chosen for the inaugural edition, ‘Is France slipping backwards’, was avant-garde. Twenty years on, the assessment is not lacking in bitterness.

In 2007, “Les Entretiens” were suspended. The community of participants, fearing that the suspension would be permanent, rallied round to continue the experience of an event that had become a must for the free expression of ideas. The following year saw the return of ‘Les Entretiens’, opening up even more widely to all forms of thought.

2013 saw the first requests from outside France. Initiatives in the spirit of ‘Les Entretiens’ took place at the Royal Castle in Warsaw, Poland, at the prestigious meeting place for intellectuals, the Atteneo in Madrid, at the Palais du Mechouar in Casablanca, at the Sorbonne in Abu Dhabi, at the historic home of Felix Houphouet Boigny in Yamoussoukro, etc. “Les Entretiens” became a movement that inspired people around the world.

In 2014, ‘Les Entretiens’ editorial committee was formally created to guarantee the content of the debates, with an annual chairmanship linked to the subject.

In 2020, the pandemic caused by the coronavirus led many events to choose a digital option. ‘Les Entretiens’, based on physical meetings and the exchange of ideas and experiences, decided not to take place. It was a clear decision, which led to a new mystique. So as not to lose any of the preparatory work, ‘Les Entretiens’ decided to bring it together in the first issue of the ‘Cahier des Entretiens’, which takes up the preparations for the XVIIth edition of the event, which could not be held in person, and adds several contributions from speakers, including an exceptional contribution from Pope Francis. Over 40,000 free copies have been downloaded. 2020 was a milestone for « Les Entretiens ».

In 2021, the events supported by ‘Les Entretiens’ became more structured. It was also the year in which the decision was taken to support two philanthropic causes in the field of education every year. Since 2021, ‘Les Entretiens’ has supported the town of the poor and the children of Akamasoa, in Madagascar, founded by Father Pedro Opeka’s humanitarian association to help the poorest and most destitute children and people.

In 2023, “Les Entretiens” celebrated their twentieth anniversary with the powerful theme of ‘’Believe‘’. Sensitive to the expectations of the general public, they abandoned – in part – the ‘off’ rule and published extracts of the speakers’ expressions to general satisfaction. A new spirit was born.