Wat Khemararam (Créteil)

Wat Khemararam
Legal name	Association Bouddhique Khmère - Vatt Khemararam
Alternative names	Vatt Khemararam; Vatt Khémararam; Vatt Khémararam de Créteil; Monastère Vatt Khemararam; Khemararam Temple
Type	Religious organization
Focus areas	Theravada Buddhism; Khmer religious services
Subjects	Religion & Spiritual Life
City	Créteil
Country	France
Address	16, rue Saint Simon, F-94000 Créteil, France
Founded	1980
Website	Website
Contact	09 50 16 23 01; 01 42 07 85 60; [email protected]
Operating status	active

Wat Khemararam, also written Vatt Khémararam, is a Khmer Theravada Buddhist monastery at 16, rue Saint Simon in Créteil, in the Paris metropolitan area of France. It belongs to the Dhammayutta order and is run by the Association Bouddhique Khmère - Vatt Khemararam. The community describes it as the first Cambodian temple built in France and in Europe. (Vatt Khemararam, Premier temple cambodgien en France; Vatt Khemararam, Contacts; Union Bouddhiste de France, Association bouddhique khmère - Vatt Khemararam)

Names

The name Vatt Khemararam means "Khmer monastery". The temple is also listed as the Monastère Vatt Khemararam, as Vatt Khémararam de Créteil, and as the Khemararam Temple. (Vatt Khemararam, Bouddhisme Khmer Dhammayutta (official site); LeBouddhisme.com, Buddhist temples in France; Union Bouddhiste de France, Grande Pagode festivities, 2026 season; Temple News, 2558 Khmer Buddhist Temples Directory (2014))

History

After 1975, Khmer monks and lay people in exile founded the Association Bouddhique Khmère (A.B.K.) in Paris in 1977, the first Khmer religious association in France. It was led by the Venerable Bour Kry, in exile in France since 1976, as the most senior member of the exiled monastic community. (Vatt Khemararam, Bouddhisme Khmer Dhammayutta (official site); Vatt Khemararam, Premier temple cambodgien en France)

In 1980 the community moved to Créteil, bought land there with donations from lay supporters, and founded the monastery. The association was then renamed Vatt Khemararam. The temple received its consecration ceremony in 1982, and the official consecration (sima) of its vihara was celebrated in 1985. (Vatt Khemararam, Bouddhisme Khmer Dhammayutta (official site); Vatt Khemararam, Premier temple cambodgien en France)

In 1987 Prince Norodom Sihanouk raised Bour Kry to the rank of Samdech Preah Ang Krou, and in 1991 King Norodom Sihanouk appointed him head of the Dhammayutta order of Cambodia. (Vatt Khemararam, Bouddhisme Khmer Dhammayutta (official site); Vatt Khemararam, Premier temple cambodgien en France)

Religious life

The monastery follows the Theravada school within the Dhammayutta order. The Union Bouddhiste de France lists the Venerable Maha Sangharaja Bour Kry as its current spiritual authority. The community describes it as open to all, without distinction of race or nationality. (Vatt Khemararam, Premier temple cambodgien en France; Union Bouddhiste de France, Association bouddhique khmère - Vatt Khemararam; Vatt Khemararam, Bouddhisme Khmer Dhammayutta (official site))

Under Bour Kry, affiliated monasteries and centres were built in Lille-Roubaix, Toul and Brussels, in Ohio in the United States, and in Makassar, Indonesia. (Vatt Khemararam, Premier temple cambodgien en France)

Community

Vatt Khémararam organizes Khmer festivals at the Grande Pagode du Bois de Vincennes in Paris. In 2026 these were Khmer New Year on April 5, Pchum Ben on October 4, and Kathina, the end of the monks' rains retreat, on October 25. (Union Bouddhiste de France, Grande Pagode festivities, 2026 season)

Visiting and participation

Address: 16, rue Saint Simon, F-94000 Créteil, France (Vatt Khemararam, Contacts; Union Bouddhiste de France, Association bouddhique khmère - Vatt Khemararam)
Contact: 09 50 16 23 01; 01 42 07 85 60; [email protected] (Vatt Khemararam, Contacts; Union Bouddhiste de France, Grande Pagode festivities, 2026 season)
Website: https://vattkhemararam.wordpress.com
Pchum Ben 2026: see Pchum Ben 2026

Sources