Abbey of Notre-Dame de l’Étoile

One of the establishments he founded was at Font-à-Chaux, which soon abandoned its eremitic character to become a Benedictine monastery. In 1124, the foundation charter of this new house was granted, along with a donation of land. It took the name l’Étoile in memory of Pierre de l’Étoile (†1114), Isembaud’s brother. The founder and first abbot died in 1140 and was buried in the abbey church. His successor, Bernard, incorporated the monastery into the Cistercian order in 1145, affiliating it with Pontigny (Yonne), which sent monks to instruct the community in Cistercian customs.

The period under Abbot Béroudière (1616–1621) was especially disastrous: the abbey lost most of its property and only one monk remained. However, in 1621, l’Étoile was reformed and entered a new phase that allowed it to survive, albeit precariously, until the Revolution. At that time, communal life came to an end and the monastery passed into private hands. Despite the subsequent lack of maintenance, the monastic complex still preserves a large portion of its structures, notably much of the (heavily altered) church and the restored chapter house.