Abbaye Fontenay
MONTBARD, FRANCE

MONTBARD, FRANCE
The Abbaye Fontenay was founded about 1188 by
Saint Bernard, today, it
is the only Burgundian monastery to maintain intact. For a period of time
in the early 19th century it was actually used as a paper mill but it has
since been restored. What results is a very intact monastic centre with a
caretaker's lodge, guesthouse, chapel, dormitory, hospital, prison, bakery,
kennels, abbot's house and a church with cloisters.
The abbey is located at the end of a valley with a pleasant stream. It is surrounded with trees and very scenic.
In 1991 the Abbaye was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO.