Abbaye de Fontenay

A remarkably well-preserved 12th-century Cistercian abbey, Fontenay was founded in 1118 by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux in Marmagne, in the Côte-d’Or. It is the oldest surviving Cistercian abbey and stands out for the simplicity of its architecture. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981.

The visit takes you through the places of monastic life: the church, the cloister, the chapter house, the monks’ hall and the dormitory, covered by a timber roof shaped like an upturned ship’s hull. A building traditionally described as a forge recalls the monks’ metalworking activities. The abbey, privately owned by the Aynard family, is open to the public.

For groups : Groups of 15 people or more visit the abbey with a private guide, by reservation, in French, English, German or Italian. The main season runs from April to early November; the rest of the year, the abbey can be explored on a self-guided visit or on a private guided tour by appointment. A tailor-made offer can add breakfast in the bakery, lunch in the gardens or a glass of champagne in the cloister at closing time.

Abbaye de Fontenay – D 32, 21500 Marmagne

On request – preferential group rate (please contact us)