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Origin and history

Alexandra David-Neel House, also known as Samten Dzong ("the fortress of meditation" in Tibetan), is a museum and interpretation centre dedicated to the Orientalist writer Alexandra David-Néel. Located in Digne-les-Bains in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, this residence was purchased in 1928 by the explorer upon her return from Tibet. She lived there until her death in 1969, surrounded by her adopted son, Aphur Yongden, and her secretary, Marie-Madeleine Peyronnet. The house, enlarged with Anglo-Tibetan elements, houses its Asian collections and manuscripts.

Alexandra David-Néel wrote many books about her travels and Buddhism. After his death, the city will inherit property, copyright and archives. Marie-Madeleine Peyronnet, heir of the right to live in Samten Dzong, published posthumous works and created in 1977 the Alexandra David-Néel Foundation Association to preserve the place, which became the museum of France in 2016.

Classified as a historic monument in 1996, the house was restored in 2018-2019 to its original colours. It is also labeled "Twentieth Century Heritage" and "Maison des illustrieux". The 14th Dalai Lama stayed there in 1982 and 1986, and a Tibetan memorial was inaugurated in 2000.

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