The Abbey of Fontenay is the best preserved Cistercian Abbey in the world. The convent buildings are in a remarkable state of preservation that allows to clearly recognize the Cistercian ideal of a simple life, fully centered on prayer and work.
However, Fontenay is more than a single architectural ensemble. The discovery by visitors of the gardens and valley around the Abbey allows them to understand the context of monasticism in its life in seclusion and self-sufficiency, conducted in a natural setting providing all the means of subsistence and development of an Abbey (streams, ponds, pastures, fields, forests, quarries ...)
When clicking on the pictures below, you will find information and photographies to prepare your visit.
