At the end of this long and tumultuous tunnel, the Cistercian order was a shadow of its former self. Foundations were rare and often distant.

Tempers eventually calmed and an attempt at renewal took place. Here and there, rebuilding began on the ruins, and sometimes even magnificent buildings whose medieval architecture was described as ‘barbaric’ were razed to the ground. And while this movement of renewal ran out of steam during the eighteenth century, the world changed and minds evolved, while institutions weakened by immobility imagined that they were there for eternity. For the Cistercians, instability set in for decades.

 As a result, the Cistercian monumental heritage fell into disrepair: poorly maintained, too many buildings and structures were abandoned. But during the 19th century, with the help of the Romantic spirit, attention turned once again to this heritage. And to this day, restoration and development work continues, and new uses for the buildings are saving many abbeys from ruin.

Although Cistercian communities are now small, their legacy to our societies is no less significant.

in the mid-14th century. Expansion was halted by the combination of the Black Death, a Little Ice Age and the ruinous Hundred Years' War. These cataclysmic events did not result in the decimation of populations, but in a bloodbath: millions of deaths. Populations were reduced by half or two-thirds. Obviously, the Cistercian communities suffered during these chaotic times of upheaval. Many abbeys were temporarily abandoned, and far too many would be abandoned permanently.

Then, calm returned and life slowly resumed. For the Cistercian order, foundations were re-established, but never at the frenetic pace seen before.

But already, a century and a half after the epidemic had died down, a new period of turmoil was brewing. Between supporters of the ‘Reformation’ and those of the status quo, tempers were  

A story taking shape

cannot help but be influenced by our societies, we must take into account that two generations have passed during the last half-century.

Of course, this positive observation does not mean that history is definitively written.

On the contrary, each recent piece of research shows us that the more we are able to increase our focus, the more new questions emerge. And these questions in turn encourage further research.

The members of the Charter contribute to this positive movement for Cistercian knowledge; they are generally very enthusiastic. While being active participants, they mobilise local resources or resources from a wider area. With its resources, the Charter contributes to the dissemination of this work.