A refractory material that can withstand high temperatures in an oxidizing medium and containing at least: a first constituent corresponding to hafnium, or to a non-oxide compound of hafnium, or circular in a or a non-oxide compound of zirconium, or corresponding to a mixture of at least two metals and/or compounds selected from hafnium a non-oxide compound of hafnium, zirconium, and a non-oxide compound of zirconium; a second constituent corresponding to the boron or to a non-oxide compound of boron, or corresponding to a mixture of boron and a non-oxide compound of boron; and a third constituent corresponding to a rare earth RE or to a non-oxide compound of the rare earth RE, or corresponding to a mixture of rare earth RE and a non-oxide compound of the rare earth RE, where RE is selected from scandium, yttrium, and the lanthanides. The material contains neither silicon nor a compound of silicon.