It was in the historic city of Sarlat, in the Dordogne, that the historic ceremony took place on Saturday, June 8: the official installation of the new Lodge "Light of Périgord", placed in the East of Sarlat. This major event marks an important step in the development of Freemasonry in southwestern France under the aegis of the Universal Grand Lodge.
A Ceremony Full of Solemnity
La cérémonie d'installation s'est déroulée en présence du Très Respectable Grand Maître de la Grande Loge Universelle, accompagné d'une délégation de hauts dignitaires venus spécialement pour l'occasion. Plus de 100 Frères, venus de tout le sud-ouest de la France, ont participé à cet événement historique.
The temple, magnificently decorated in the colors of the region and Freemasonry, welcomed the work in an atmosphere of recollection and fraternity.
A Bridge Between Traditions
This new Lodge aims to reflect a Freemasonry rooted in the universal values of tradition, while integrating the cultural riches of the Périgord region. As the Grand Master emphasized in his speech:
"Le Périgord a toujours été une terre de spiritualité et de sagesse. La Franc-Maçonnerie que nous développons ici ne vient pas importer un modèle étranger, mais s'enraciner dans un terreau fertile où les valeurs de fraternité, de solidarité et de transmission du savoir résonnent profondément avec nos traditions ancestrales."
An Ambitious Project
The Worshipful Master of the new Lodge, installed during this ceremony, presented the ambitious project that will animate the work in the coming months:
- Organization of public conferences on societal themes
- Partnerships with local universities for research in human sciences
- Humanitarian and social actions for disadvantaged populations
- Creation of a Masonic library open to researchers
- Development of fraternal ties with other Lodges in southwestern France
An Unforgettable Evening
The ceremony continued with fraternal agapes in a restaurant in the heart of Sarlat, offering a view of the historic monuments. The Brothers were able to taste Périgord specialties prepared with care, in an atmosphere of joy and fraternity.
Traditional Occitan songs and performances by local dancers enlivened the evening, recalling the cultural richness of the Périgord region and the importance of integrating local artistic expressions into Masonic life.
The Future of Freemasonry in Southwestern France
This installation in Sarlat is part of a broader movement of development of Freemasonry in southwestern France. Other projects are underway:
- Upcoming opening of a Lodge in Bordeaux
- Strengthening existing Lodges in Toulouse and Pau
- Project for a Provincial Grand Lodge of Southwestern France by 2027
- Organization of a regional Masonic congress in 2026
"Southwestern France is a land of the future. Freemasonry finds a particular echo there because it joins the deep values of our societies: respect for the given word, solidarity between men, transmission of knowledge from elders to young people, and the permanent quest for wisdom."
The Universal Grand Lodge rejoices at this new establishment which testifies to the vitality of our tradition and its capacity to adapt to cultures while preserving the essence of its initiatory teaching.
We address our most fraternal greetings to the Brothers of the Lodge "Light of Périgord" and wish them fruitful work in the construction of the Temple of Humanity.
✦ May the Light shine on Sarlat and on all southwestern France ✦