La Gendronnière
La Gendronnière is a castle and estate of 75 hectares in a forest on the edge of the Sologne , in the Loire Valley, 15 kilometers south of Blois .
In 1979 Taisen Deshimaru founded a temple there, the Tai Sei Bukkyo Dai Ichi Dojo "the first large dojo in the West for the teaching of Buddha" to create a center for the radiation of Zen in Europe. In addition to the 19th century castle and the existing outbuildings, he had the students build a large dojo that can accommodate up to 400 practitioners. A completely new infrastructure (sanitary facilities, kitchen, accommodation) was also built under his direction.
Today the La Gendronnière Temple is the center of the great Sangha , which is the Association Zen Internationale . Hundreds of students from all nations, of all ages and of very different origins gather there to practice zazen, ceremonies, handicrafts (samu) for the Sangha and to receive instruction that allows an understanding of the Buddha's teaching to deepen. Numerous sesshins (intensive exercise periods) are organized there throughout the year .
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Coordinates: 47 ° 28 ′ 45 ″ N , 1 ° 15 ′ 24 ″ E