Skip the Line: Abbaye de Fontenay Admission Ticket
Overview
Available languages
Paper ticket
Welcome to Fontenay Abbey. A !2th Century Burgundy Heritage Abbey!
Come and admire the beauty and purity of architecture unspoiled for 900 years, and enjoy the quiet of a place designed for spirituality.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Included ts gardens and the lapidary museum.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Abbaye de Fontenay
Fontenay Abbey in Burgundy was founded in 1118 by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, a leading French saint, and is the oldest preserved Cistercian abbey in the world. Recognized as French historic monument in 1862, it was declared World Heritage by Unesco in 1981. It was one of the first French monuments on this list, which has distinguished the exceptional interest of the Abbey and its natural environment. After the French revolution, which led to the departure of the monks, it was converted to an industrial use which preserved all the buildings of the Romanesque period: the Abbey Church, the Dormitory, Cloister, Chapter Room, the Common Room, and the Forge. The Abbey is decorated with a landscaped park which was listed in 2004 as "Remarkable Garden" by the National Council of Parks and Gardens. Located in northern Burgundy, it is nestled in a fully preserved valley which extends over 1,200 hectares. Since 1820, the Abbey of Fontenay has been the private ownership of the same family, which continues to preserve this exceptional site opening to public visit all year round. The Abbey welcomes 100,000 visitors each year who come to admire the beauty and purity of architecture unspoiled for 900 years, and enjoy the quiet of a place designed for spirituality.
What‘s Included
Admission to Abbey of Fontenay
Food and drinks
Transportation to/from attractions
Meeting points
Abbaye de Fontenay
Marmagne Montbard France
End points
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
Options
Skip the Line: Abbaye de Fontenay Admission Ticket
Reviews
120 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Beautiful place 🤩
SabrinaLEV,Mar 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Superb visit, beautifully maintained place. Thanks to the owners for letting us access this property full of positive energies. Land networks, fountains with superb rainbow trout, an incredible plane tree over 200 years old, 37 meters high and classified remarkable tree of France. Very quiet place, soothing and very pleasant welcome. It warms the heart to still see places of nearly 1000 years still protected, preserved from there so-called modernity. A place that makes you want to live there. You will also find a bookshop through which the entrance is made and a small cafeteria with vending machines to eat its picnic sheltered if necessary. We also saw hiking trails. Everything to have a great day.
Powerful place
Chrischtl33,Feb 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very nice to explore and for great photographs. Almost no visitors at that time. An entertaining excursion destination. Admission not cheap, but you can see that is renovated, restored and maintained.
Exceptional setting!!!
geraldine51450,Feb 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Despite the rain, beautiful site, very well maintained.
One of the most beautiful we have visited in France!
Torette23,Nov 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Beautiful discovery! A magical place, full of history, a wonderful heritage! What more can I say?! It is to discover, visit, look, admire, photograph,... In short, take inspiration from this heritage that is almost 1000 years old, and let yourself be guided. One of the most beautiful we have visited, and we have made it!
Disappointed
chsemega,Nov 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00Beautiful building but lacks numbers on the rooms to locate themselves because not enough with the plan The gardens are well maintained But many buildings closed to the public
Burgundy Abbey: a jewel!
GUY L,Nov 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00One of the most beautiful abbeys I know in an admirable country setting. In 1098, the Cistercian order was born in Cîteaux, an ideal of simplicity and a return to the rule of Saint Benedict. In 1112, Bernard de Clairvaux, a 23-year-old from a Burgundian family, joined Cîteaux. His charisma and fervour give new impetus to the community. In 1115, he founded the Abbey of Clairvaux, one of the first “daughters of Cîteaux”, which became a radiant center. From there several abbeys were born, including Fontenay in 1118. Fontenay is today the only abbey founded by Saint Bernard that has remained intact throughout the centuries. Rare testimony to Cistercian monastic life, it still embodies the sobriety and harmony advocated by its founder.
Unpleasant experience TRPADVISOR
henrilX679XO,Oct 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00On October 2nd I received an email from TRIPADVISOR with a key to click on to print my tickets to the Abbey of Fontenay on October 6th. On several occasions, on the following moment and days, I clicked the button many times without ever getting the slightest reaction. Fortunately, once there, by presenting a screenshot of this inept email, I was able to get my tickets actually paid and enjoy this admirable monument.
A Cistercian experience
elisaguicheteau,Sep 8, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00To discover absolutely this magnificent Cistercian abbey, one of the oldest in Europe, founded in 1118 by Saint Bernard de Clairvaux, with a guide (essential) to know all the secrets: the cloister (I love), the dormitory, the chapter room (and learn the origin of the expression "voice in chapter"), the abbey... And also enjoy its park classified "Remarkable garden", with a crush for the English garden, the garden of Simples, and for the imposing bicentennial plane tree, planted in 1780 and measuring about 40 m high.
Discover without hesitation
Q6211WDcaroleb,Aug 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00For more information, prefer the guided tour, it will only cost you 3 euros more but the guide can explain many more things than the leaflet. It also puts events into context. We have learned a lot of interesting things.
superb monument well presented
ThierryFerrari06,Aug 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Suberb Monument with a beautiful garden. This abbey escaped the destruction of the revolution because it was transformed into a printing press and then restored to its original state. The guided old lady was great with simple words but very complete.
From €11.50
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