2025
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Fontenay Abbey, a magnificently preserved 12th-century Cistercian jewel, organizes heritage, cultural and musical events every year. This year, 2025, the major dates are as follows:
Tuesday April 8 from 10am to 4pm: The Tour Auto 2025, which runs from April 7 to 12, passes through Fontenay Abbey. Observe the most legendary cars in this veritable open-air museum.
Thursday May 29, 9pm-11pm: Nocturne with the Haute Côte-d'Or Choir. Succumb to the artistic dialogue between the Sestina and A Capella choirs by Finnish and Norwegian composers. On this occasion, several rooms in the abbey can be visited by candlelight alone. A pure moment of poetry!
Saturday June 7, 6.30 pm - 8.30 pm: Attend a concert by laureates of the Gautier Capuçon Foundation. The program includes the best sonatas for violin and piano by Bach, Beethoven and Brahms.
Saturday-Sunday, June 7 and 8, 10am-12pm and 2pm-6pm: Guided tours of the gardens with commentary by the Fontenay gardeners. Discover the abbey gardens in late spring, the flowering season par excellence. Awarded the "Jardin Remarquable" label, Fontenay's gardens combine a French style with a medieval section where medicinal and tinctorial plants grow naturally. Discover the new plan for the gardens in 2025!
Friday June 20 from 6pm to 8pm: aperitif with a view. Combine the pleasure of an aperitif with a visit to a UNESCO World Heritage site. Reservations Tel. 03 80 92 15 00. An alliance of pleasures!
Saturday July 19 and Friday August 15, 9pm-11pm: Gregorian choir concerts. Gregorian chants take center stage on these evenings hosted by Les Ambrosiniens, a Dijon-based Gregorian choir. Wander around the abbey by the light of 1,200 candles in the main halls. Simply magical!
Saturday August 2, 8.30-10.30 pm: Concert by the "Concerto Konstanz" string orchestra, conducted by Wolfgang Mettler. The best of violin and cello in one concert.
Sunday, September 14, 10am-6pm: Fantastic Picnic, 17th anniversary of Label Auxois Morvan Naturellement. Gastronomy, eating well and local produce are in the spotlight on the anniversary of this label promoting sustainable agriculture. The program includes an ephemeral market, stands set up by certified producers, a convivial picnic, musical entertainment and a hot-air balloon ride. By organizing this event, Fontenay Abbey aims to promote local, environmentally-friendly production.
Saturday September 20 and Sunday September 21: European Heritage Days. Reduced-rate guided tours of the abbey. François Tainturier will share with you some fifty copies of early medieval and Renaissance instruments in the scriptorium.
Sunday September 21 at 10am: Fontenay mass organized by the Montbard parish.
From Friday, November 14, 2025 to Sunday, February 15, 2026, Christmas festivities will be held at Fontenay Abbey. For the occasion, a Provençal crib created by Arles artist Arlette Bertello will be installed in the abbey church.
Saturday December 13 and Sunday December 14, Christmas Market, with craft and gastronomic stalls, a festive event in which Arlette Bertello's crib will take center stage.
Did you know? This review was written by our professional authors.
Members' reviews on FONTENAY ABBEY
The ratings and reviews below reflect the subjective opinions of members and not the opinion of The Little Witty.
The paper guide was provided in English and was all we needed to understand all the different buildings and gardens.
The church was amazing in its simplicity and the attached monks quarters were well preserved. The forge was a highlight with various re-creations of the water hammer first developed and used here.
The gift shop was also nice.
Parking was free and easy to access.
Well worth the detour to see this wonderful historic site.