Cistercian abbeys. History and architecture

Founded in 1098, the later cloister of Citeaux is the birthplace of the Cistercian Order. From here the Order spread to all parts of Europe. The Order`s strict way of life is also reflected in the unadorned simplicity characteristic of its architecture, an expression its spirituality. The world of the Cistercians has exerted a great appeal right up to the present day - embodying as it does virtues of rural life in contrast to the problems of modern urban life. Cistercian cloisters are also an allegory of medieval utopia that reminds us of the fundamental questions in life. It is the harmony of ethics and aesthetics to be found in Cistercian structure that is the source of the fascination they excite. More than 50 cloisters from all over Europe are presented here at length with brilliant photographs and informative texts - a work that transports the reader back to the very roots of Christianity in Europe.