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French heritage: iconic sites and food of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

Q: Who founded the abbey of Fontenay?

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. The abbey of Fontenay was founded by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux in 1118.

Q: Since which year has the abbey of Fontenay been listed by UNESCO?

1981. The abbey has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1981.

Q: Which ingredients go with the beef in bœuf bourguignon?

Onions, carrots and mushrooms. Bœuf bourguignon contains beef with onions, carrots, mushrooms and bacon.

Written by the Hexaciv editorial team · Ministry sheet read on 23 October 2026, still identical on 25 October 2026 · Our method

Read in: Français · العربية

In short

This sheet presents cultural landmarks of French society. It speaks in particular about Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.

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Key points of the sheet

The abbey of Fontenay is in the north of Burgundy, in the middle of nature. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux founded it in 1118.
It is one of the oldest monasteries in France that still exist. It is very well preserved. It has been listed by UNESCO since 1981.
Its landscaped park was listed as a "Remarkable Garden" in 2004. The abbey is an important tourist site in Burgundy.
Bœuf bourguignon is a speciality from Burgundy. People eat it everywhere in France.

Words to know

Abbey of Fontenay (abbaye de Fontenay): It is a monastery in the north of Burgundy, founded in 1118 by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux.
UNESCO World Heritage (patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO): The abbey of Fontenay has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1981.
Remarkable Garden (Jardin remarquable): The abbey's landscaped park received this listing in 2004.
bœuf bourguignon (beef stew from Burgundy): It is a dish of beef simmered for a long time in Burgundy red wine, with onions, carrots, mushrooms and bacon.

Test yourself: 3 questions

Who founded the abbey of Fontenay?

In French, the language of the exam: Qui a fondé l'abbaye de Fontenay ?

The abbey of Fontenay was founded by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux in 1118.

Since which year has the abbey of Fontenay been listed by UNESCO?

In French, the language of the exam: Depuis quelle année l'abbaye de Fontenay est-elle classée à l'UNESCO ?

The abbey has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1981.

Which ingredients go with the beef in bœuf bourguignon?

In French, the language of the exam: Quels ingrédients accompagnent le bœuf dans le bœuf bourguignon ?

Bœuf bourguignon contains beef with onions, carrots, mushrooms and bacon.

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Questions on the ministry's list that rest on this sheet

Which dish of meat slowly cooked in red Burgundy wine is a French speciality?

Source

Sheet “Patrimoine français : sites emblématiques et gastronomie de Bourgogne-Franche-Comté” of the French Ministry of the Interior: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Content published under the Etalab Open Licence 2.0. This page is a plain-language adaptation made by Hexaciv, which is not an official site: if in doubt, the ministry's text is the one that counts.

Ministry sheet read on 23 October 2026, still identical on 25 October 2026.

Hexaciv is an independent tool for preparing the French civic exam. It is not an official site, is not linked to any administration and gives no legal advice. For your file, the authoritative source is the Ministry of the Interior's, cited on this page.