Founded in 1118 by Saint Bernard, the Fontenay Abbey is one of the
oldest Cistercian monasteries in France. Spared by the French
Revolution, all the Roman style buildings have been completely
preserved : the Abbot’s lodging, the dormitory, the cloister, the
council room, the scriptovisual room, the heating room and the
forge.
The monument is
nestled in a fully preserved and officially protected valley in the
north of Burgundy. The French and English gardens surrounding the
abbey have been recently redesigned by the English landscape
architect Peter Holmes. The entire park counts two hectares and has
been classified as “remarkable garden” by the Ministry of Cultural
Affairs.
The
private property of Fontenay is maintained and preserved by the same
family since 1820.
