With its majestic architecture, timeless sobriety, and legacy as a crossroads of knowledge, Pontigny Abbey has been woven into the landscape and history of the Yonne department in Burgundy for over 900 years. Featuring one of the best-preserved churches of the Cistercian Order, it remains an enduring symbol of spirituality and cultural influence. While it served a religious purpose until the French Revolution, it went on to capture the minds of twentieth-century intellectuals through the “Décades de Pontigny”—renowned gatherings organized by Paul Desjardins.
Today, under the leadership of the François Schneider Foundation, the Abbey is undergoing major renovations to transform into the Domaine de la Terre et des Arts (The Earth and Arts Estate). A new chapter is being written, yet its core purpose remains unchanged: to welcome visitors, forge connections, promote knowledge and craftsmanship, and offer a space to step back from the world to research, experiment, and innovate.
