Eastern religion...
Throughout
history the winds of religious change have blown through
Burgundy. Always Christian but now the region is also a centre
of Buddist worship with the temple Kagyu Ling
of La Boulaye, south of Autun.
Temple Kagyu Ling of La Boulaye
The
sheer force of religion swept across Europe during the 11th
century, bringing stability and great power. The Benedictine
abbey of Cluny was the most important church in the
catholic world... almost as big as its successor St. Peter’s
in Rome.
Cluny
It
is difficult to realize the importance of Cluny and
imagination is required during a visit as only the outline of
this monster church remains...it was destroyed and the stones
used for local housing!
The Cistercian order also had a profound
influence not only in religious terms but in the development
of today’s wine industry. These monks followed the Roman
introduction of wine to Burgundy and became the first
producers, of what is now the region’s best known export, on a
commercial scale!
Clos de Vougeot, wine harvest
They
also gave us Fontenay. The abbey is so impressive and
yet so hidden. A drive of some 50 miles north of Dijon
descending into a deeply wooded valley and there is one of the
most remarkable pieces of religious architecture to be found.
Listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco,
Fontenay is one of the best preserved Cistercian abbey
Spend
a while in the gardens, as I did, and just try to imagine the
sheer effort that went into the design, the building and the
daily life within the abbey. credits
: Burgundy
Tourist Board
France Regions Burgundy
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