Cîteaux Abbey

abbey, Cîteaux, France

Also known as: Cistercium Abbey

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July 23, 2026

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Cîteaux Abbey, founded in 1098 in Burgundy, France, by St. Robert of Molesme, became the motherhouse of the Cistercian order. Through the influence of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, the order grew rapidly, establishing abbeys across Europe. The Cistercians were known for their strict asceticism, manual labor, and architectural simplicity, often characterized by plain, unadorned structures that blended Romanesque and Gothic elements. Although the original abbey was largely destroyed during the French Revolution, it was restored to the Cistercian order in 1898.123

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Western painting
France
At Cîteaux the early manuscripts show evidence of strong Norman and English influence in their decoration and a satirical delight in observation (as in Gregory the Great’s Moralia in Job, 1111). Later, in a group of manuscripts of the second quarter of the century, the illustrations…
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At Cîteaux the early manuscripts show evidence of strong Norman and English influence in their decoration and a satirical delight in observation (as in Gregory the Great’s Moralia in Job, 1111). Later, in a group of manuscripts of the second quarter of the century, the illustrations…
Read More

St. Robert of Molesme
…monastic reformer, and founder of Cîteaux (Latin: Cistercium) Abbey (1098), which developed into the Cistercian Order.
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…monastic reformer, and founder of Cîteaux (Latin: Cistercium) Abbey (1098), which developed into the Cistercian Order.
Read More