The abbey of Fontenay : a Cistercian masterpiece

The Abbey of Fontenay is a vast monastic complex with an imposing abbey church, a perfectly proportioned cloister and a harmonious arrangement of abbey buildings. Tucked away in an unspoilt valley in northern Burgundy, it represents one of the most remarkable surviving Cistercian monasteries. On this beautiful site watered by a small brook, away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, visitors are soon transported back to the abbey's early days ; in October 1118, a group of pioneering monks led by St Bernard established their community here in a desire to return to the strict precepts of the Rule of St Benedict.

This monograph serves as both guidebook and historical reference work, helping you to understand and appreciate this fascinating architectural complex which has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1981.