Location
View maps of Dordogne, France
Although Songtsen has groups of people working in various countries all over the world, its main base is located in Dordogne, France. In the heart of the Vézère valley are the houses of Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche and Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. During a span of 20 years, these masters frequently visited the Dordogne and gave a vast collection of teachings. It is in this blessed area that Songtsen’s activities have grown and flourished.
Songtsen's main offices and teaching location
View of the Vezere valley
from the Cote de Jor, Dordogne
Most of the organization’s office structures, as well as its teaching and retreat facilities, are located on the Cote de Jor, a forested ridge with spectacular views over the Vézère valley. The Chanteloube, Siddhartha and KRF offices are located in a restored French house known as La Bicanderie. Nestled in a secluded hillside and surrounded by forest are the traditional retreat centers of Thekchok Osel Chöling and Thekchok Ngayap Chöling.
The Padmakara office, Songtsen’s Tibetan translation department, is situated a few kilometers down the Cote de Jor from La Bicanderie, not far from the small town of Le Moustier.
La Sonnerie, Dordogne, France
Also located on the Cote de Jor, between the Chanteloube and Padamakara offices, is La Sonnerie, also known as Shechen Tennyi Dargyeling or Tashi Pelbar Ling (the name given by Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche). La Sonnerie was the European home of His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche for more than 25 years. It is now the residence reserved for visiting lamas and its grounds provide the location for the programmes and events organized by Chanteloube and throughout the year.
Rinchen Ling
Rinchen ling retreat center
About 45 minutes from St. Leon Sur Vezere and only 10 minutes from Perigueux is Thekchok Rinchenling, a retreat center where individuals can perform short-term or long-term retreats.
For more directions and maps, see how to get there.
About the Dordogne area
Formerly known as the province of Périgord, the Dordogne is located about 300 miles southwest of Paris (a four hour train ride), 70 miles East of Bordeaux, and only a few hours North of the Pyrenees. Influenced by varying climatic factors, the Dordogne is endowed with a variety of landscapes, rich with fertile plains, rolling hills and mountains.
The Dordogne landscape
Dordogne’s diversity is represented by the four colours used to describe the four different areas of the Périgord – black, green, purple, and white. Songtsen is located in the opulent 'Perigord Noir' or 'Black Perigord', which includes towns such as Montignac, Sarlat, and Le Bugue. The area is internationally renowned for some of the world's most ancient pre-historic sites (Lascaux, Les Eyzies, Le Moustier, La Madeleine), including some of the most significant archaeological finds of the European Upper Paleolithic Period, such as Cro-Magnon (a population of early Homo sapiens in Europe). Dordogne is a popular tourist destination, particularly in the late summer and early autumn, when many vacationers are attracted to Dordogne’s peaceful scenery, mild climate, diverse landscapes and rich history.
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