Founded circa fifth century AD

The Village

Pieusse's famous oratory

Fine dining at "A Table", Pieusse

Entrance to Pieusse's church

Pieusse Coat of Arms

The ancient gateway to Pieusse

I am Peter Kellow, an Englishman living in the beautiful department of Aude, in the glorious, historic region of France, known as Occitania (Occitanie).

I have spent a life time researching, publishing and discovering a new life philosophy.
In these retreats I expound this new philosophy in a way totally accessible to anyone with an interest in exploring the reality of which we are all part. No prior knowledge of philosophy is needed.

As well as discourses and discussion of philosophy, the programmes consist of visits to local places of interest, and eating in the fine local restaurants, which all serve French cuisine at its best.

• NOT exercises in self discovery
• NOT explanations of the work of past, well known, philosophers
• NOT instructions in meditation or Yoga
• NOT about mystical ideas like those of Theosophy and Rodolf Steiner
• NOT concerned with New Age thinking, like that of Rupert Sheldrake and Greg Bradens
• NOT a promotion of Logical Positivism which is the default philosophical "-ism" of practically all present day philosophy - especially what you will find online.

Such other types of retreats, of which there are many, can be of value, but here the focus is on my new life philosophy where you can question its author yourself and make your own judgements.

My life philosophy is a true philosophy in that it is based firmly on rationality and so can be debated and challenged.

All this takes place alongside an experience of the rich culture, superb gastronomy and stunning landscape of this part of France, while you stay in, or near, the calm reflective atmosphere of the unique village of Pieusse.

Pieusse Village

This philosophy is vast coverning all the traditional concerns of philosophy, ethics, knowing, aesthetics, perception plus many others generally hardly considered or not recognised at all.

Each retreat will form part of a sequence. You attend a Part One retreat and if you like it you can attend a Part Two retreat, which will not only be different in the philosphical content, but the visits will also be different.

In my region the sites to visit are, like my philosophy, virtually limitless. There is no cap on the number of different retreats in store.

My philosophy is a philosophy of life and the amazing surrounding beauty informs our dialogue with its wonder.

Vineyards around Pieusse

This is a philosophy that is tested for rigour and logic in all its claims. In this it recognises that many philosophical ideas of today fail badly in such tests.

What you take from this retreat is for you to evaluate. But it cannot fail to be beneficial and to some extent, great or minor, enlarge your world view.

With a small group of eight maximum you will have a chance to make new friends if you wish as we learn, visit and dine together.

Pieusse's own first class restaurant

I hope you will see the experience as a starting point for further explorations. This can include returning to Pieusse for subsequent parts and so playing a part in developing this new human world view and spreading the message.

“The endeavour of philosophy is to understand reality.
The purpose of philosophy is to make the experience of reality
more intense.”

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Retreat One. Introduction

Dates.
Saturday 29th August - Saturday 5th September 2026

Total cost £1850.00 *
Includes all accommodation, meals, visits, and transfers from Toulouse airport.

Deposit : £300
Due : 8th August 2026

Balance : £1550.00 *
Due : 15th August 2026

*Note. This figure is provisional and subject to confirmation before you make your firm reservation.

Reserve your provisional place for the next retreat
No payment due until retreat is confirmed.

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Contact Peter Kellow

Email. peter@kellow.net

Presenter and Creator of
New Philosophy Retreats

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Logo of my philosophy of HUMANAISM.
symbolising containing logic as opposed to the
dominant linear logic

EVERY DAY THE SAME BUT DIFFERENT

Once installed in your accommodation, each day will follow a pattern
- subject sometimes to variations to suit

See Next Retreat for its full programme.

8.30am - 9.30am
Continental breakfast

10am - 12pm
DISCOURSE AND DISCUSSION

12.30pm - 2.30pm
LUNCH. Two courses, choose entree/main dish or main dish/dessert,
including 1/4 litre carafe

2.30pm - 4pm
Visit a town, museum or site

4.pm - 5pm
Siesta

5.30am - 7.30pm
DISCOURSE AND DISCUSSION

7.30pm - 8pm
Dress for dinner

8pm - 10pm
DINNER. Three courses, entree/main dish/dessert,
including 1/4 litre carafe

10pm onwards
Continue the evening, or turn in, as is or maybe.

Restaurants in France usually offer a set menu, comprising two or three courses, for a specific price. Normally within the set menu you can choose between three or so alternatives.

These set menus are included in the price of the retreat. You cannot go "A la Carte" except that, if you do, you must pay separately, and I cannot offer refunds, as I need to keep administration to a minimum.

If you want addition drinks, these you must pay for these separately.

Note, vegetarianism barely exists in France, so vegetarian options may not exist on the set menu, or "A la Carte". I cannot offer refunds for the reason already stated.

“The endeavour of philosophy is to understand reality.
The purpose of philosophy is to make the experience of reality
more intense.”

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SOME PUBLISHED BOOKS

..

...........

YOUTUBE VIDEO SERIES

All YouTube Philosophy Videos

Corpus Christi College, Cambridge University

Bristol University

Studies

I began my academic career studying mathematics at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge University, England.

At school I had been fascinated by the rigour, structure, abstraction and the beauty of mathematics.

But while at Cambridge I realised that at my young age I had made a mistake and I wanted to be involved in a creative profession.

So I left Cambridge to study architecture at Bristol University, obtaining two degrees, BA and BArch, becoming a qualified architect and member of the Royal Institute of British Architects.

I had a successful career as a partner in a multi-award winning architectural practice in London. We stood out against the prevailing trend believing that architecture should be beautiful and appeal to everyone, not just the narrow professional elite. We rejected the cult of Modernism and its deliberate reversion of beauty.

I do not recommend the philosophy books at this stage as they are mostly technical. This is excepting Humana Book One but note that you will receive a free hardback signed copy of this at the retreat.

There is also a series of Youtube videos and this is the best place to start to make your acquaintance with me and my philosophy with to help you to decide if this is for you.

Also I have a Substack channel if you prefer to read

Philosophy Retreats

However, the retreat discourses will be quite different in style from all of the above for they will be to a degree improvised according to the audience reaction. There will be plenty of time for discussion.

As with architecture, I could not embrace the orthodoxy and so I created my own philosophy. I firmly believe this philosophy is needed as an antidote to mainstream philosophy which is sterile and flawed in its methods.

I would argue that my acquaintance with the rigour of mathematics, together with the creative processes that lead to beautiful architecture, provide a good grounding for a new philosophy – better than an orthodox philosophy course.

A New Enlightenment

I call my YouTube channel Philosophy for a New Enlightenment. The discourses will be far from politics but I present my ideas in the context of what many see as a dark age where true knowledge and faith is neglected.

We need to work towards an age of New Enlightenment where rationality takes its place alongside human values and where fake sciences like Darwinism, materialism and positivist philosphy, are dismissed for the malign nonsense that they are.

Philosophy like most academic fields closes itself to ideas that do not conform to certain central tenets. There is too much investment in academia by too many people in fixed ideas for it to be open to change.

I am delighted to reach out to a different audience with these retreats - an audience who will not be encumbered with preconceived ideas.

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At my house in Pieusse

Contact Peter Kellow
Presenter and creator of
New Philosophy Retreats

My architecture like my philosophy challenges
the prevailing sterile orthodoxy

To provide the best experience during this retreat, everything is done to enable you to relax and enjoy.

So, I organise all accommodation, meals, visits, as well as transfers from Toulouse airport. The discourses take place by in the Mairie [Town Hall] of Pieusse by permission of the mayor. This is all included in the price

I have a minibus available at all times. I drive, leaving eight passenger seats, and this determines the maximum number on any retreat.

The price includes all this. You pay only for your flight to Toulouse Airport, a busy airport serving most world destinations.

In addition, you may wish to purchase extra wine or drinks at meal times. (A quarter litre of local wine is included in the price).

And there is a large commercial centre one mile from Pieusse, including a chemist, hypermarket, hair dresser, cash distributor, Aldi, in fact anything you might need. We can visit this centre in the minibus as required.

I have personally checked all the restaurants and sites that we visit.

Accommodation may be simple or more luxorious, depending on availability in or close to Pieusse. I personally check all accommodation. I will provide transfers in the minibus for accommodation outside the village.

Prices are for one person per room. I may be able to negotiate reductions for sharers.

If you have any kind of disability, please contact me and I will make any necessary arrangements.

YouTube videos. The best place to sample my philosophy, but only if you wish.
No preparation is necessary before attending a retreat