Retreats

It depends on the programme. There are options for people with no experience and others that require having meditated before or some knowledge of Buddhist philosophy.

Comfortable clothes, shoes for walking outdoors and, in winter, a bit more warmth than you would wear in the city. If you have your own cushion you can bring it, but it isn't essential.

In Llinars del Vallès, 40 minutes from Barcelona: a natural setting close to the city, ideal for a silent getaway.

It is a Buddhist retreat: it is based on the practice and teachings of this tradition. You don't need to be a Buddhist or share its beliefs to take part.

A retreat is a conscious pause: time to turn down the noise, recover your attention and return to what is essential. At Casa Virupa we offer spiritual retreats in a natural setting in Llinars del Vallès, in the province of Barcelona, with a Buddhist community that sustains the practice and the care of daily life.

In the Buddhist contemplative tradition, a spiritual retreat is a form of intensive practice: a simple, protected framework in which to train meditation and attention with continuity. The aim is not to “leave” life, but to set up clear conditions —silence, nature, a daily routine and a guide who accompanies you— to see more clearly how the mind works.

In our spiritual retreats, we let the pace slow down so that calm can appear. There are guided sessions and also moments to simply be, walk, breathe and listen to yourself. A spiritual retreat is, above all, a way of coming home: to serenity, to balance and to your own experience.

A Buddhist retreat at Casa Virupa brings an ancient tradition into a Mediterranean, present-day setting: rigorous practice, approachable language and support. Although you don't need to “be a Buddhist” to attend, we are sheltered by the rigour of an ancient and wise lineage.

In a Buddhist retreat we work with concrete tools this tradition offers: meditation, attention, silence and contemplation. The aim is to learn to relate to your mind and to the world with more kindness and clarity.

Each programme combines structure and space. The experience usually includes:

1. Sitting and walking meditation: we train attention with a simple object (often the breath) and alternate stillness and movement.
2. Quality silence: periods of silence (sometimes strict silence) to encourage stillness and inner disconnection.
3. Instruction and support: guided sessions, space for questions and an experienced team holding group processes.
4. Nature and surroundings: mindful walks, quiet corners to rest, sun and shade; woodland nearby and a simple life.
5. Daily life as practice: meals, tidiness, rest, attentive living together. It is all part of the experience.

In a spiritual retreat, meditation practice is the axis. You can learn to:

• Come back to the breath again and again, cultivating calm and concentration.
• Recognise distraction, agitation and dullness, and let them go without a fight.
• Sustain attention in everyday activities: walking, eating, listening.
• Open the heart with practices of loving-kindness and compassion, depending on the programme.

Besides meditation, there may be other practices: yoga stretches, contemplation in silence, short study and time for integration. In the deepening retreats, the structure helps you devote several days in a row to contemplative practice, reducing distractions and encouraging mental stability.

These spiritual retreats don't promise miracles; they offer conditions. Among the most common benefits:

1. Free time and space: a retreat sets a time limit to step out of routine and into calm, silence and rest, in a natural setting.
2. Distance from reactivity: in our retreats you step back from the occupations and dynamics that agitate you, encouraging calm, serenity and peace.
3. Returning to the present: meditation on retreat makes it easier to be here and now, training attention and a steadier presence in every activity.
4. Inner transformation: a spiritual retreat helps you get to the root of your reactions, order the mind and recover balance, with a sense of healing and wellbeing.
5. Sustained practice: in a Buddhist retreat (or a retreat open to anyone), the practices are better sustained thanks to the rhythm, the group, the team, the spaces and the facilities of the house.
6. Energy to care: the stay recharges your energy and supports more sustainable care (for yourself and for others), without exhaustion.
7. Clarity about what matters: when the noise goes down, it is common to see the essential more clearly and to return with a more lucid outlook that carries into daily life.
8. Connection and purpose: these spiritual retreats are also an inner destination: a getaway to reconnect with your needs, your presence and a kinder way of living.

Casa Virupa is a house designed for practice: meditation halls, common spaces, corners of silence and a natural setting for walking. Depending on the programme, your stay may include:

• Accommodation in shared or individual rooms (subject to availability).
• Vegan meals prepared by the community.
• Spaces for indoor and outdoor practice: halls, gardens, paths and resting areas.
• Herbal teas, water and relaxation breaks.
• Basic equipment: cushions, chairs and blankets (if you need them).

If you come from Barcelona, the place is easy to reach and, at the same time, secluded enough for silence to be possible.

Booking your place is simple:

1. Choose the programme in the calendar and review the essential information (dates, format, requirements and contribution).
2. Book your place from the relevant page.
3. You will receive an email with practical details: what to bring, arrival and finish times, and preparation tips.
4. If you have specific needs (food, mobility, rest), write to us so that we can look after them.

If you would like to start gently, you can come for a day of practice or a weekend. If you already have a foundation, multi-day spiritual retreats let you go deeper with more continuity.