Abbaye de Fontenay · Cistercian Abbey of Fontenay
UNESCO-listed Cistercian abbey founded by St. Bernard, one of the finest surviving architectural expressions of early Cistercian ideals.
Sacred Place Overview
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Fontenay Abbey is in Marmagne, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France and is an uNESCO-listed Cistercian abbey founded by St. Bernard, one of the finest surviving architectural expressions of early Cistercian ideals.. St. Bernard founded Fontenay in 1119. UNESCO records that the principal abbey buildings were constructed between 1139 and 1147 under Abbot Guillaume and that the abbey was consecrated by Pope Eugene III.
The surviving church, cloister, dormitory, monastic work spaces and ironworks make the site an unusually complete expression of early Cistercian organization and self-sufficiency. Architecturally, the site is principally Cistercian Romanesque. Its documented heritage context includes Exceptionally preserved Cistercian monastic complex; it is also recorded as World Heritage Site — Cistercian Abbey of Fontenay (1981).
UNESCO values Fontenay not only for its church but for the survival of the wider monastic economy, including work spaces and an ironworks that illustrate early Cistercian self-sufficiency. The restrained architecture expresses the order’s ideal of simplicity. Today the complex is preserved principally as a historic abbey rather than a resident Cistercian monastery.
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St. Bernard founded Fontenay in 1119. UNESCO records that the principal abbey buildings were constructed between 1139 and 1147 under Abbot Guillaume and that the abbey was consecrated by Pope Eugene III. The surviving church, cloister, dormitory, monastic work spaces and ironworks make the site an unusually complete expression of early Cistercian organization and self-sufficiency.
Fontenay is preserved primarily as a historic abbey and World Heritage property rather than as an active Cistercian monastic community.
Cistercian Romanesque · Exceptionally preserved Cistercian monastic complex · World Heritage Site — Cistercian Abbey of Fontenay (1981)
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