Looking for an original cultural discovery for the 2025 Heritage Days? Head for the Khánh-Anh pagoda in Évry-Courcouronnes (Essonne), which is offering an exceptional program on September 20 and 21. This Buddhist temple, the largest in Europe at 3,300 m², invites us to immerse ourselves in the richness of Vietnamese culture for a weekend.
This pagoda with its ochre-yellow walls stands out in the Ile-de-France landscape, and can't go unnoticed from Highway 7. With its Chinese glazed tiles, curved roofs and eighteen-metre-high tower, it's a veritable architectural mirage. Inaugurated by the Dalai Lama in 2008, it represents the headquarters of the Unified Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation in Europe.
The story of this construction is a remarkable one. Although the foundation stone was laid in 1995, it took almost twenty years for this Vietnamese-style temple to be completed. The reason for this? It was only donations from Buddhist devotees around the world that made it possible to finance the architectural complex. Even today, volunteers work daily to maintain and improve this exceptional place of meditation.
Visible from trains departing from the Gare de Lyon or from the RER D, the pagoda's remarkable architecture is astonishing. Upon entering, visitors must leave their shoes on before entering the meditation hall. At the heart of the temple stands a giant 5-metre statue of Buddha Shakyamuni in meditation, covered in gold leaf and surrounded by traditional offerings.
For these European Heritage Days, the pagoda offers a rich program that will delight those curious about Asian spirituality and culture. While Friday, September 19 remains reserved for school groups, the general public can take full advantage of the weekend with the following program:
Saturday, September 20 :
Sunday, September 21:
These moments offer a unique immersion in Buddhist spirituality. The Mandala ceremony, an age-old practice in which monks create ephemeral works of art from coloured sand, is a fascinating meditative spectacle. Sunday evening's ritual destruction is a reminder of impermanence, a fundamental principle of Buddhism, in an exceptional setting on the banks of the Seine.
In addition to its spiritual functions, the pagoda houses a cultural center with meeting rooms, a museum, a library and a training center. The temple belongs to the Mahayana branch of the Great Vehicle Buddhism, which, under the guidance of the Venerable Thich Quang Dao, emphasizes openness to the world and hospitality.
The interior architecture is also well worth a visit. Access to the second floor is via a central staircase leading to the cultural hall, which communicates with the prayer room. At the rear, a meditation room with a dark red floor is dedicated to the memory of deceased devotees, with the portrait of the Most Venerable Thich Minh Tam, founder of the pagoda, in the center.
Created in 1984, the European Heritage Days are an annual opportunity to raise public awareness of Europe's rich heritage. The Khánh-Anh Pagoda's participation is perfectly in keeping with this approach to cultural discovery and promotion.
Address: 8 rue François Mauriac, Parc aux Lièvres, Évry-Courcouronnes (91000). To get there by public transport, take the RER D to the Bras de Fer station, then walk 800 meters. Access is free throughout the weekend. Information on 01 64 93 55 56 or on the pagoda's Facebook page.
Dates and Opening Time
From September 20, 2025 to September 21, 2025
Prices
Free
Official website
www.facebook.com
