The Abbey of Fontenay (Fontanetum) is a Cistercian monastery founded in France in 1118 by Bernhard von Clairvaux, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981.
The Abbey of Fontenay, one of the most important in Burgundy, is located in the Côte-d'Or department, about 60 km northwest of the city of Dijon, about 6 km from Montbard, in a remote, original Bachtal valley. It has the oldest surviving Cistercian church. The location corresponds to the Cistercian tradition of erecting monasteries in remote valleys on a watercourse. As fish was considered a staple of Cistercian cuisine, creeks accumulated in ponds often have the appearance of Cistercian abbeys. The surrounding wilderness avoided distraction and temptation through the mundane business of towns and villages.
Fontenay was founded in 1118 by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux as a subsidiary (Filiation) of the Primary Abbey of Clairvaux in the Valley of Marmagne. The building is a manifesto of the strict Cistercian Romanesque and largely corresponds to the original condition. Fontenay quickly became one of the region's leading spiritual centers: the monks crafted valuable manuscripts and achieved success in the medicine and medicine of the High Middle Ages. In the 13th century, hundreds of monks lived in Fontenay.
Monastic life ended with the French Revolution in 1789: in 1791 the last nine monks left Fontenay. After the sale, a paper mill was set up in the buildings of the abbey, the basilica was increasingly threatened by decay.
In 1906, the wealthy brothers Edouard and René Aynard bought the entire abbey and began the elaborate restoration that continues to this day.
(Source: Wikipedia)
In the original it is even more beautiful and impressive!