UNESCO World Heritage · 1981
Cistercian Abbey of Fontenay
Cultural
WHS ID
165
Inscribed
1981
Category
Cultural
Description
This stark Burgundian monastery was founded by St Bernard in 1119. With its church, cloister, refectory, sleeping quarters, bakery and ironworks, it is an excellent illustration of the ideal of self-sufficiency as practised by the earliest communities of Cistercian monks.
Inscription details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| WHS ID | 165 |
| Inscribed | 1981 |
| Category | Cultural |
| Criteria | (iv) |
| State party | France |
| Transboundary | No |
| French name | Abbaye cistercienne de Fontenay |
Protected monuments
| Monument | Commune | Protected |
|---|---|---|
| Eglise de Saint-Quentin-lès-Beaurepaire | Saint-Quentin-lès-Beaurepaire | 1984 |
| Immeuble de Châteaudun | Châteaudun | 1953 |
| Pont de Sénard sur la Maine | Saint-Hilaire-de-Loulay | 1984 |
| Eglise Saint-Pierre de Meusnes | Meusnes | 1959 |
| Eglise Saint-Symphorien, ancienne aumônerie et ancienne grange monastique | Nazelles-Négron | 1953 |
| Tour Papegault de Saumur | Saumur | 1965 |
| Couvent des Ursulines | Château-Gontier | 1987 |
| Eglise paroissiale Saint-Jean-Baptiste | Braye-sous-Faye | 1926 |
| Polissoir des Davaux et bande de terrain de 2 mètres tout autour | La Selle-sur-le-Bied | 1987 |
| Immeuble à lucarne de type compagnonnique | Châteauroux | 1997 |
| Clos du Bois Rayer de Saint-Avertin | Saint-Avertin | 1965 |
| Atelier de potier de Herbignac | Herbignac | 1986 |
| Restes du vieux château féodal | Cluis | 1935 |
| Hôtel de ville de Lorris | Lorris | 1862 |
| Eglise de Moisdon-la-Rivière | Moisdon-la-Rivière | 1978 |
Loire appellations
| Appellation | Avg score | Reviews | Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sancerre | 89.3 | 554 | White |
| Muscadet Sèvre et Maine | 88.6 | 237 | White |
| Pouilly-Fumé | 89.6 | 153 | White |
| Vouvray | 88.4 | 153 | White |
| Touraine | 86.3 | 85 | White |
| Chinon | 88.7 | 72 | Red |
| Menetou-Salon | 87.3 | 69 | White |
| Crémant de Loire | 87.5 | 54 | Sparkling |
| Val de Loire | 85.6 | 41 | White |
| Saumur | 88.4 | 40 | White |
| Anjou | 87.6 | 36 | White |
| Rosé d'Anjou | 84 | 35 | Rosé |
Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Updated: April 14, 2026.