Plouray: a Brittany village with its own Buddhist centre

On the old road from Carhaix to Vannes, about 55km north of Lorient, sits Plouray (Morbihan). Home to 1,022 residents it initially looks like many other villages in rural Brittany, with its churches, greenery and rows of low, stone-built houses. 

Turn a corner, however, and you will be surprised by a Buddhist centre, complete with brightly-coloured temples.

The Centre Bouddhique Drukpa Plouray opened in 1986, founded by His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa, spiritual head of the Drukpa Lineage, which is one of the main Buddhist schools of the Himalayas and dates back over a thousand years. 

This site, tucked away in rural Brittany, is the European Centre of the Drukpa Lineage, and has been visited several times by Gyalwang Drukpa over the years and even by the Dalai Lama in 2008, who gave a teaching session and public conference during his stay that drew more than 5,000 people.

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Open to everyone and free to visit, the Drukpa Centre is dedicated to the study and practice of Himalayan Buddhism, where day-visitors can stroll along the paths and admire the stupa, the temple, the prayer wheel and the statue of Bairo Rinpoche, a Tibetan spiritual master who created a strong link with the centre. 

Sit on a bench and absorb the tranquility or join the daily rituals at 07:00 and 18:00 that are open to the public. 

The centre organises regular workshops and conferences throughout the year, including yoga, concerts, storytelling for children and Tibetan language classes.

Breton heritage

Plouray has a long history, evidenced by the Dolmen de Guidfoss dating from the Bronze Age, and to the north-east of the village there are traces of the old Roman road connecting Vannes to Carhaix. 

To appreciate the traditional Breton structures, you can follow a signposted walk (Le Circuit des Vieilles Pierres) around these sacred architectural sites. Discover the remains of Saint-Maudé chapel, built in the 1500s, or the gothic-style Locmaria chapel from 1543, a modest-looking building with rich stained glass that has been recognised as an Historic Monument. 

Plouray’s Eglise Saint-Yves originally dated from 1486 but was completely remodelled in the 1600s and its treasures include a multi-coloured altarpiece in gilded wood and polychrome wooden statues of saints.

Natural treasures

The many walks in the village include an 11km circuit – the trail of the oaks (Le Circuit des Chênes) – which takes you from the village of Rosterc'h to the chapel of Saint-Guénin and past Saint-Yves Church. 

While you are in Rosterc'h, you will see two incredible oak trees that are centuries old, and have been listed as ‘remarkable trees of Morbihan’.

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In Plouray itself, Er Lann Vras is definitely a highlight, a large and attractive lake that was inaugurated in 1999. Follow the path around the water, test yourself on the fitness trail, take a dip in the water or linger on the banks to enjoy a picnic at the tables provided. You can even enjoy a barbecue here and there is a playground for younger visitors.

Practical information

The village of Plouray sits inland, about 55km north of Lorient and 40km west of Pontivy. If you are planning to visit, consider timing it with the Boules Bretonnes competition on September 13, the Bread Oven Festival on October 5 or the Christmas Market on December 14. 

The programme at the Buddhist Centre includes an exhibition of Buddha relics from August, a public introduction to Buddhism on August 31, and regular light and prayer events. 

If you are in a motorhome, you will find a park at the entrance to the village.