Cistercian Cloister, Abbaye de Fontenay

The cloister (12th c.) formed the heart of monastic life at Fontenay. Its arcaded walks linked dormitory, refectory, and church, providing a sheltered space for meditation and study. Unlike the richly sculpted cloisters of Cluniac houses, Fontenay’s restraint reflects Cistercian ideals of austerity, where bare stone and symmetry channel focus inward toward silence and prayer.