The Grande Pagode du Bois de Vincennes !!!

Posted in Asia, France, Paris

We have driven in the area and would like to have an imprint in my blog on the wonderful things to see in the Bois de Vincennes! Which brings lots of memories of our forays into this part of Paris,long gone need to be back,eventually, The pictures are again from my vast cd rom vaults that should be in my blog for you and me, Therefore, here is my take on the Grande Pagode du Bois de Vincennes !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.

The Grande Pagode is housed in a large 28-meter-high pavilion, reminiscent of the huts of African chiefs in Cameroon and Togo. The building has retained the appearance it was given for the 1931 Colonial Exhibition. The original paintings on the facades have been removed, and the thatched roofing has been replaced with wooden shingles. Only the addition of a “dharma-chakra” wheel, a symbol of Buddhist law, on its facade indicates the new purpose of this site. It has become the headquarters of the Buddhist Union of France. It houses the tallest Buddha in Europe and relics of the historical Buddha donated by Thailand to France. Within its grounds is the Tibetan Buddhist temple of Kagyu-Dzong. In 1977, the Museum of Wood Industries in the city of Paris became a pagoda. It is managed by the International Buddhist Institute, an association founded in 1969. The pagoda was inaugurated on October 28, 1977. The association dissolved itself in 2003 and the pagoda in the Bois de Vincennes was then taken over by the Buddhist Union of France. Relics of the historical Buddha from Wat Saket in Bangkok have been placed in the Great Pagoda of Vincennes, which has thus become the spiritual center of Buddhism in Europe. On May 17, 2009, the relics, cremated remains of bodies housed in a glass bubble encased in a golden sculpture of a pagoda, were carried by four men on a red and gold palanquin to enter the temple. It was a gift from Thailand to France. Since then, they have been visible under the main statue.

The entrance to the vast 8000m2 enclosure is marked by a sculpted group installed in 1972. This bronze by the Japanese artist Torao Yazaki, created in 1971, “Pilgrims of Clouds and Water”, is a copy of a work whose original is located at the Sojiji temple, on the Noto peninsula. The work represents seven Zen pilgrims “Unsui”. Next to it, one can also admire the Tibetan temple built in 1985. It is designed according to the traditional rules of Buddhist philosophy. The pagoda site is open during religious ceremonies. the Kagyu Eussel Tcheu Dzong, which means “the Citadel of Clear Light”. The four colored columns that support it represent the “4 Noble Truths” revealed by Buddha at Sarnath. Its entrance gate is decorated with the Dharma-Chakra (Wheel of the Law), which is also found on the facade of the Great Pagoda, as well as the golden spire, which symbolizes emptiness, a major concept in Tibetan Buddhism.

The large pavilion known as the Grande Pagode or Great Pagoda, the former Hunting Pavilion, the former café, the former police station pavilion, and the guardhouse. The most imposing, the former Cameroon pavilion, 28 meters high, was first restored and transformed into a pagoda for worship in 1977. It underwent a second restoration in 2015. The restoration of the second, the former Togo pavilion, was done by the City of Paris. It house a library containing texts on various Buddhist traditions.

The Grande Pagode du Bois de Vincennes,is located at the Route de la Ceinture du Lac Daumesnil 12éme bordering the lac Daumesnil lake, Open Tuesdays to Sundays from 14h to 17h,Wednesdays from 15h to 19h. It is not open to the public permanently, but according to its calendar of activities and more particularly on the occasion of the Vesak festival. Check as hours can change and visits by guide, You can access it by metro line 8 Balard-Créteil stop/arrêt Porte Dorée then follow the lake on your righ or Liberté station, by bus line 46 arrêt/stop Porte Dorée et Zoo de Paris , By car you can enter it by the avenue de Gravelle -Porte de Charenton or by Avenue Daumesnil-Porte-Dorée, then Avenue St Maurice,

The Paris tourist office on the Grande Pagode de Vincennes : https://parisjetaime.com/eng/culture/centre-bouddhique-kagyu-dzong-grande-pagode-de-vincennes-p929

The official Union Bouddhisme de France on the Grand Pagode : https://www.bouddhisme-france.org/la-grande-pagode/

There you go folks, a dandy area to explore and enjoy with the family, Memorable moments on my road warrior trips and family visits of yesteryear always remember and always looking forward to be back, eventually. Again hope you enjoy the post on the Grande Pagode du Bois de Vincennes !!! as I. 

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!

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Published by pedmar10

I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world. My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting. Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, me. No part of this work may be modified, without the written permission of the holder, me.No part of this work may be exposed to public view in any form or by any means, without identifying the holder as the author, and with the before mentioned permission.

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