Institut Vajra Yogini

Institut Vajra Yogini is a Tibetan Buddhist center housed in a castle in the Tarn region, featuring meditation halls and dedicated spaces for teaching and practice. The grounds contain multiple buildings designed for courses, retreats, and daily communal life.

The center was founded in 1979 by Lama Thubten Yeshe and has grown into a major hub for Buddhist teaching. The Dalai Lama visited in 1982 and 1993, marking important moments in its development as a respected institution.

The institute follows the Gelugpa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, welcoming both newcomers and experienced practitioners to study and meditate together. Visitors can observe the daily rhythms of communal practice and the spaces where people gather for learning and reflection.

The center is best reached by car and offers accommodations for visitors participating in programs. It is advisable to check in advance which courses or retreats are scheduled, as not all times are open for individual visits.

The center houses the largest stone Kadampa-style stupa in France, built in the early 1990s. This structure stands as an important landmark in European Buddhist architecture and draws visitors interested in traditional building forms.