To reach the Centre
 by road :
- from Paris take the A10 motorway towards Chartres
- then continue on the motorway A11 direction Nantes - Angers
- A little before Angers take the A85 motorway towards Saumur
- Take the exit n°2 towards Longué, Jumelles (toll from Paris: 23,50 euros)
- Go into Longué and follow the indications to Blou
Before arriving at the town of Blou you will see a large sequoia close to a small castle ; we are there. The entrance is by the car park
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By train :
the nearest station is in Saumur (15 km).
There are frequent connections to and from Paris, either via Angers (TGV +TER), or via Tours (TGV or Coral +TER).
The TGV journey takes between 1h40 and 2h30, and costs between 41 and 56 euros.
Be sure to find the right railway station in Paris:
the TGV leaves from Paris-Montparnasse
NB: there is a direct TGV Paris-Montparnasse/ Saumur: departuring 18.40/arriving 20.29
The Coral train takes longer (approximately 3 hours), but costs
32 euros.
Be sure to find the right railway station in Paris: the Coral leaves
from Paris-Austerlitz.
A taxi from Saumur to Blou costs approximately 30 euros.
If you want, someone from Shenten will be able to come and pick you up and we ask 7 euros per trip (one or more passenger). Please phone to arrange this one day before your arrival.
Accomodation
3
levels of comfort are proposed:
single rooms arranged with table, bedside table, bedding etc (3
rooms)
double rooms with
beds and cupboard space (7 rooms)
rooms with 4 beds on mattresses (12
rooms)
Each
group of 6 rooms is served by 1 bathroom with 4 showers and 2 WC
dormitories : Two old classrooms with 8 mattresses in each one
camping is limited to 10 tents only
NB : please, bring sheets and a sleeping bag. If that
is impossible, sheets and cover rent : 3€/week
NB2 : unfortunately, we cannot receive domestic animals (cats,
dogs, mice, hamsters, giraffes and others) ; Cows and birds are
accepted but moles, although very sympatic, are undesirable in the
kitchen garden.
Meals
Shenten should be equipped soon with a communal kitchen, but this summer, only 2 small kitchens will be functioning and will be strictly reserved to a team of volunteers to prepare dinner and do the washing up. Another team will deal with breakfast. Lunch will be delivered by a restaurant.
If you follow a special diet, or if you are unable to pay for the meals at the suggested tariff. contact us as soon as possible so that we can find a solution together before your arrival.
One week before each retreat we must know the number of meals to
be taken the first week. Thus do not forget to register for your
meals in advance and specify if you are vegetarian.
For legal reasons, we can't let you cook your own meal in the buildings
of the center anymore. Thank you so much for helping us to keep
up with the current laws.
Joining in daily tasks
Everything which happens at Shenten Dargye Ling during retreats is done by volunteers so we ask each of you to dedicate around one hour a day to help things run smoothly.
Daily tasks include: preparing and serving meals, washing up, housework, shopping, admin work, gardening, transcribing and translating. When you register please let us know which of these jobs you’d like to be involved with.
If you would like to do karma yoga for longer, we’d appreciate your help from the beginning of July onwards.
If you are available, call Isabelle on + 33 616 04 16 82.
Annexes
List
of useful objects that you could offer to Shenten:
all items of furniture: beds, tables, cupboards, bedside tables,
chairs..., carpets, lamps, refrigerator, cooker, garden tools
