Abbey of Fontenay

Fontenay Abbey is a monastery Marmagne French (Côte-d'Or department) near Tonnerre, about 45 km from Auxerre. It is one of the most iconic of all monasteries of Cistercian architecture. Bernard of Clairvaux and monks of his affiliation funded Clairvaux Abbey and its construction, and it is very well preserved, the model for the important Cistercian expansion in Europe in the next two centuries. The oldest Cistercian foundation preserved in France offers insight into the Cistercian way of life. It was founded in 1118 by St. Bernard. In the heart of the forest this retreat offered peace sought by the order.