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
117 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
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.
Night concert in the abbey
251gabrielb,,Jul 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Abbey discovered at night in August 2024 during a concert of the Ambrosinians, Gregorian choir from Dijon. Exceptional setting for such a concert in a site adorned with more than 1200 large candles, it is quite magical. Good acoustics in the cloister, the members of the group moving there. What surprised me was that there are almost no seats. The concert is followed standing or sitting -where possible, on the ground, on steps. You have to know that for who can't stand for long. As listeners are also visitors, some walk during the concert to access especially under the attic of the cloister by a staircase on which many listeners are installed. It’s a bit “peculiar” and I don’t find it very respectful of the choir or the other listeners but that’s the concept. For my part, I thought that the visit could be done before or after the concert but not during its course. Again, this is very special and you have to know it. Were there too many people? I really enjoyed the evening but I regret not being able to enjoy the concert as I imagined and I wanted to mention it. But do your experiment. Another small regret: there is a possibility to combine the daytime visit then the evening concert but unfortunately not the concert and a visit the next day. If this had been the case, I would have returned the next day for a more classical daytime discovery of the abbey. But paying twice the full fare, no. So I postponed my visit to another visit in the region, maybe one day... These “downsides”, which are the result of a very personal appreciation and my experience, do not detract from the great beauty of the site and the serenity that we feel there. I recommend the visit and hope to have the opportunity to come back.
19/6/25: It's not just an abbey
MarcV2932,,Jun 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Guided tour in the Burgundy road cycle: don't forget to keep your tickets. Guided tour by a learned person (and who walks fast...). It seems to us that for reasons that we imagine, guides in general must make their visits quickly. For amateurs, there is a very nice functional water mill
Let yourself be carried away by the magic of the place!
mg68vacances,,Jun 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wonderful visit! Fascinating and grandiose place! The best guide, passionate and so interesting that we were lucky enough to benefit from! THANK YOU to her!!!
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