Abbaye de Fontenay

Founded in 1118 by Saint Bernard, Fontenay Abbey is one of the oldest Cistercian monasteries in Europe. The Romanesque architecture lends a remarkable homogeneity to the 12th-century buildings, which have remained intact after more than eight centuries of history. Visitors can explore the church, the cloister, the monks' dormitory, the chapter house, the scriptorium and the great forge. After visiting the monastery, garden lovers can wander freely in the two-hectare park and admire the new landscaped garden with its many varieties of plants and shrubs. Now privately owned, Fontenay Abbey was one of the first French sites to be included on UNESCO's World Heritage List, in 1981. The former monastery is located in the hollow of a listed, entirely unspoilt valley. The footpaths invite you to go for many walks in the beech and ash forest.