Fontenay

location:	Montbard, Burgundy, France
founded:	1118
daughter of:	Clairvaux
current status:	World Heritage site
visit:	all year round
pictures taken :	July 2011
One of the earliest, and most complete, of the European Cistercian monasteries: only the 13th century refectory is missing, having collapsed in the sixteenth century for lack of upkeep while the abbey was held in commendam. It has been used as a factory and a paper mill in the nineteenth century, then was carefully restored in the twentieth century. It was declared a World Heritage site in 1991. the nave, looking east the chapter house the cloister, looking west from the chapter house cloister monks' dormitory view of the east end of the church and the wing containing the monks' dormitory. The pool in the foreground contained, at the beginning of July, some impressively large tadpoles!