International Summer School - Tours (France) - July 4-11, 2026

International Summer School of Tours – July 4–11, 2026

The International Summer School of Tours, to be held from July 4 to 11, 2026, will focus on the theme: “Heritages and Renaissances: Christianity between History and Creation.”

This week of study and exchange seeks to explore how Christianity has shaped European culture in its most diverse expressions—architecture, arts, music, and literature—and to question how this heritage continues to inspire new forms today. Tours, the city of Saint Martin, remains a major spiritual center and a symbolic place where memory and the future, heritage and creation, come into dialogue.

The choice of this theme is rooted in a long history, marked by debates, conflicts, but also fidelity and renewals. From its earliest centuries, Christianity had to clarify its faith through the crises it encountered. The Council of Nicaea, in 325, was a decisive milestone, affirming that Christ is “consubstantial” with the Father. Yet this declaration was not universally accepted at first, and it took decades to be firmly established.

In the Latin West, a key figure in this struggle was Hilary of Poitiers, one of the great Fathers of the Church. Bishop, theologian, and exiled for his fidelity, he devoted all his energy to defending the Nicene faith against Arianism, notably through his treatise De Trinitate. In Gaul, he upheld this truth of faith, earning the title “the Athanasius of the West.” The Christian dogma did not emerge in a single moment but through a process of history, maturation, and sometimes conflictual dialogue that strengthened and clarified Christian faith.

The story of Saint Hilary is inseparable from that of his disciple, Martin, the future Bishop of Tours, whose luminous figure profoundly marked Christian memory. Martin was not a theologian in the strict sense, but he embodied the spirit of the Gospel in his life. His gesture of sharing his cloak with the poor, his pastoral ministry, and his spiritual radiance made him a universal figure whose influence extended far beyond Tours.

Hilary and Martin illustrate two complementary aspects of Christianity: doctrinal precision, which seeks truth and builds dogma, and lived charity, which testifies to the Gospel through action. The Summer School of Tours will invite reflection on this dual dynamic: a heritage forged in history and a creation that renews itself continuously.

Christianity has not been transmitted as a fixed memory but has inspired, through the centuries, countless works that still speak to us. Gothic cathedrals translate into stone and light a theology of the Incarnation. Medieval painting and Baroque sculpture give form to biblical narratives and open paths of contemplation. Music, from Gregorian chant to great sacred compositions, expresses a quest for beauty inseparable from faith. Literature, from Saint Augustine to contemporary authors, bears witness to the strength of hope and the depth of spiritual experience.

Across centuries, Christian art has ceaselessly invented new forms, showing that heritage is alive and nourished by constant renewals. Today, this legacy continues to inspire, sometimes in fidelity to tradition, sometimes in creative or critical dialogue with it. The International Summer School will not be limited to a retrospective view: it aims to understand how this heritage can illuminate contemporary culture and open new perspectives for the future.

Tours is particularly well-suited for such a reflection. A city of history and heritage, it was one of the great centers of Western Christianity. The tomb of Saint Martin attracted pilgrims from across Europe for centuries. Its monuments, artworks, and traditions narrate this memory. Yet the challenge is to go beyond patrimonial value, asking what this heritage can still mean and generate today in a world seeking meaning and hope.

The International Summer School of Tours will thus provide an international, multilingual, and communal experience. Courses and lectures will offer keys to understanding the history, thought, and art of Christianity. Workshops will invite participants to confront their own experiences and questions. Cultural visits will allow discovery of Tours’ heritage and its region. Informal exchanges will add a human and convivial dimension to this summer immersion.

This July 2026 gathering is an invitation to reflect together on what in the Christian heritage remains a source of life and creation. Heritages and renaissances are not opposed: they respond to each other. Christianity has been able, through the centuries, to endure crises, clarify its faith, and invent new forms. From Nicaea to Poitiers, from Saint Hilary to Saint Martin, from Romanesque basilicas to contemporary stained glass, the same Loire flows: a great river of tradition that traverses Christian history as it crosses Tours, carrying a faith that is built, transmitted, and renewed unceasingly.

📌 What is an International Summer School?

An International Summer School is an intensive academic program held during the summer. For one week, participants from diverse backgrounds come together to experience study, reflection, and exchange in an international setting.

The International Summer School of Tours will feature courses, workshops, lectures, and cultural discoveries, all in a spirit of conviviality and sharing. It will also distinguish itself through its multilingual dimension: all activities will be accessible in French, Spanish, and English, enabling each participant to express themselves in their preferred language.

📌 What is Domuni Universitas?

Domuni Universitas is an international online university founded by the Order of Preachers (Dominicans). It offers higher education in theology, philosophy, social sciences, history, and arts, open to students from all over the world.

Domuni stands out for its flexible and interactive pedagogy: courses are available online in several languages (French, English, Spanish, Italian, Arabic) and allow students to work at their own pace while being supported by a community of teachers and tutors.

More than just an online university, Domuni Universitas is an international academic community bringing together students, professors, and researchers from over 90 countries, fostering intercultural and interdisciplinary dialogue.