Hua Zang Si Temple

I bet you're surprised by this red church! It's true that it's a rather unusual religious building! It's the Hua Zhang Si Buddhist temple. Originally it was a Lutheran Gothic church, very typical in Europe. It was built in the 1900s for German immigrants working in the local tanneries and breweries. But at the end of the 20th century, with the massive influx of Latin American immigrants, the Germans migrated west and the church was moved. The building was desacralized, ready to be converted into condos, before finally being purchased by the International Buddhist World Association in 2002. The building has been refurbished and the interior is now a magnificent, richly decorated temple. Step inside, and you'll be warmly welcomed by Sakyamuni Buddha sariras, sacred relics of the founder of Buddhism who lived in the North of India over 2,000 years ago. A rather unexpected and enriching retreat!