Less than 3 hours from Lyon, one of the world’s oldest abbeys has stood the test of time for over 900 years. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it owes its remarkable preservation to a family from Lyon who have watched over it for over two centuries.

Nestling in its 1,200-hectare green setting, this abbey, like the Basilica of Vézelay, was one of the first monuments in France to be classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a sign of its exceptional universal value.

Pierre Laurent - Journalist Publirédactionnel • August 27, 2025

This is without doubt one of the most beautiful abbeys in the world. Quite simply, it’s the only French abbey to date to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and has been since 1981. Less well known than Cluny (currently in the running for UNESCO World Heritage status) and located just a few kilometers from Vézelay and, to a lesser extent, the Roche de Solutré , Fontenay Abbey is a jewel of our heritage that owes its splendour to a family of patrons from Lyon.

Fontenay Abbey, over 900 years of history in an absolutely remarkable state of preservation.

Abbaye de Fontenay — Patrimoine Bourgogne

It has survived the tumult of the centuries without a scratch (or almost without a scratch). Despite its ripe old age, Fontenay shines brightly. Having lived through the Capetian, Valois and Bourbon dynasties, it seems to care little for the passing of time. The peacefulness of the site is perhaps the explanation… Whether it’s the church, the chapter house, the cloister, the forge or, of course, the gardens, everything seems to be bathed in a timeless atmosphere, allowing you to immerse yourself in the life of the monks of the time.

Indeed, what strikes you when you visit Fontenay Abbey is the peacefulness of the place, also due to its exceptional surroundings. Nestled in a small valley classified as a “Remarkable Garden”, the magic of the abbey is also to be found in the surrounding nature. It is this ensemble that allows us to grasp all the beauty and meaning of the site. The surrounding area is home to several hiking trails, ponds and waterfalls. In 2007, they too were listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.

A family from Lyon, guardian angels of the abbey since 1820

But what is Fontenay Abbey’s rejuvenating cure? It may well be due in part to a family from Lyon who have been fighting for the preservation of the site for over 200 years. It was in 1820 that Élie de Montgolfier (descendant of the inventor of balloons) bought Fontenay.

Then, in 1906, Édouard Aynard (originally from Lyon), son-in-law of the Montgolfiers, continued the process with a huge phase of renovation work. The family succeeded, without comparison, in ensuring the preservation of the site. Let’s not forget: Fontenay is the oldest preserved Cistercian abbey in the world, the result of a titanic effort that today enables us to immerse ourselves in our heritage in a way that is rarely possible.

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