Tivoli Théopolis: a new name, inspired by a forgotten city, for a timeless experience.

Théopolis, the mysterious city of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence 

At the heart of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence lies the enigma of Théopolis, literally the 'city of God.' This fascinating place takes us back to the 5th century, at the end of the Roman Empire, a time of political and spiritual upheaval. Théopolis is known thanks to a monumental Latin inscription carved into the rock, still visible today at the site of the Pierre Écrite, near Saint-Geniez. This exceptional text mentions Claudius Postumus Dardanus, a high-ranking Roman official who became a Christian, who states that he arranged a passage, roads, walls, and gates to serve a place called Théopolis.

But despite this precious historical trace, no city has ever been formally found. No map, no clearly identified ruin allows Théopolis to be located with certainty today. Was it a true fortified town, a spiritual refuge, an isolated Christian community, or a symbolic place? The mystery remains.

This lack of remains has, over time, fueled imagination and local legends. Some have sought Théopolis in the surrounding heights, especially near the Chapel of Our Lady of Dromon, without definitive archaeological evidence. Thus, Théopolis oscillates between proven history and lost city, between ancient reality and Provençal myth.

Today, Théopolis is above all a unique testimony to the transition between the Roman world and Christianity, forever etched in stone. A place where history stops… and where mystery begins.