In 1982 Vietnamese Zen-Master Thich Nhat Hanh founded the Buddhist monastery, Plum Village. Plum Village welcomes thousands of retreatants each year and has become a major destination for those seeking wisdom.
Plum village sits on eighty acres of land in the wine country east of Bordeaux, France.
In exchange for a home Vietnamese refugees helped clean and renovate the beautiful, rustic, eighteenth-century stone farm buildings and helped construct additional buildings. About fifty residents stay year round studying Buddhism, working to help Vietnamese refugees and free political prisoners, and tending to the 1,250 plum trees from which the monastery gets its name. For one month each summer the community is open to the public and nearly 1,000 visitors come to practice. The emphasis is on learning skills and bringing mindfulness into everyday life. Retreatants participate in all activities including chores.