Abbey of Fontenay

The Abbey of Fontenay consists of a church, dormitory, cloister, chapter house, and forge spread across a natural valley of 1,200 hectares.

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux established the monastery in 1118, making it the oldest preserved Cistercian abbey worldwide until its transformation into a paper mill after the French Revolution.

The architectural elements of Fontenay Abbey demonstrate the principles of Romanesque design through massive walls, sturdy piers, and groin vaults without decorative elements.

The monastery opens daily from 10:00 to 18:00, including public holidays, with guided tours available in multiple languages upon advance reservation.

The abbey maintains one of Europe's earliest ironworks by the river, where visitors can observe traditional 13th-century hammering techniques.

Location: Marmagne

Location: Fontenay

Inception: 1118

Architectural style: Cistercian architecture

Opening Hours: Holidays,Monday-Sunday 10:00-18:00

Phone: +33380921500

Email: info@abbayedefontenay.com

Website: http://abbayedefontenay.com/fr

GPS coordinates: 47.63966,4.38933

Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:37