Kunsalling Retreat Place, Italy

Welcome to Kunsalling (www.kunsalling.it), the retreat place of the Dzogchen Community. It is located in Valvestino, in the province of Brescia, Italy, in the Alto Garda Natural Park, between Lake Garda and Lake Idro. It is a wonderful place, 1350 meters above sea level, in a small isolated valley, surrounded by woods and protected by cliffs. From the top of the highest mountain in the valley (1977 m) you can contemplate the entire Lake Garda and a panorama that ranges from the glaciers of the Alps to the Apennines. The place can only be reached on foot and requires a spirit of adaptation, even if equipped with everything you need.

Chögyal Namkhai Norbu at Kunsalling in 1991.

Chögyal Namkhai Norbu visited this place in 1991, staying there for three days and after giving some precious advice to the disciples gathered there, he consecrated the place calling it KUNSALLING – “always clear place” – and defining its characteristics particularly suitable for personal retreats. It has since been used (from May to September) by practitioners all over the world. Kunsalling Gakyil takes care of it so that it is always welcoming to interested practitioners.

The house consists of two rustic buildings. On the ground floor of the first building there is a kitchen equipped with induction hob, a classic wood stove and a fireplace. A small refrigerator is also available. The pots are divided by type according to the hob. On the first floor there is a bedroom with a very small bathroom. The room is equipped for dark retreats.

In the other building the bathroom is on the ground floor and the Gönpa on the first floor. There is also a small shed for lunch or dinner in the open air. The buildings have electricity and running water. It is, however, necessary to ask and receive information when booking because the place requires some instructions.

Those who wish to attend the place for personal or collective retreats are asked to book by June 15th of the current year. Reservations arriving after this date will be taken into consideration based on remaining availability.