Author: Bart van Tiggelen

A young French mathematical physicist, Cécile DeWitt-Morette, founded the Les Houches School of Physics in 1951. In less than 4 years, the unique formula of the School had already achieved a worldwide reputation. At that time there were no advanced courses, equivalent to today’s Master classes, on contemporary topics such as quantum physics or statistical mechanics anywhere in France or even in Europe. Brilliant physicists were mostly in the US, among whom were many European physicists that had moved to the US after the war, including Cécile DeWitt herself. France and Europe were lagging seriously behind in the teaching and practice of modern physics. The Physics School in Les Houches attracted many top physicists to teach on a blackboard for two months in the summer period. The formula was unique, simple and efficient. With an amazing view on the Mont Blanc mountain range, far away from the laboratories and university classes, the “hanging gardens” of the Les Houches School became a place where students could interact directly with Wolfgang Pauli, Enrico Fermi, Richard Feynman, Julian Schwinger, Alfred Kastler, Nicolaas Bloembergen, Kip Thorne, Claude Cohen-Tannoudji and many others over a cup of coffee. Léon van Hove, future CERN Director, actually held the first class, on quantum mechanics, in 1951. Today, 51 Nobel laureates and Fields medal winners have been teaching in Les Houches.

In bringing together the greatest physicists in the world and successive generations of young researchers in a spectacular and stimulating location, the Physics School has strongly contributed to the development of French, European and international physics. Many other Physics Schools have been created since, with essentially the same principle of providing tutorial courses on contemporary topics, combined with informal exchanges and geographic isolation. However, as recalled by Jean Zinn-Justin, one of his former directors, “the École des Houches is the mother of all modern schools of physics”. Its success has revealed the importance of training and informal discussions to the progress in physics. Created almost 70 years ago, the École de Physique des Houches has been recognised, on October 5, 2020 and upon proposition of the French Physical Society and the Direction of the School, as an “EPS Historic Site”, in the presence of all scientific authorities concerned. Before unveiling the commemorative plaque, Luc Bergé, EPS president-elect, underlined that “The European Physical Society is happy to recognise the École de Physique des Houches as one of its most precious Historic Sites, enriching the scientific cultural heritage not only of Europe, but also of all humanity.“

From left to right: A.Fontaine, L. Bergé, G. Wormser, B. Van Tiggelen, C. Salomon - Image credit: François Henry/Les Houches