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Petit Fontenet

Residence of the Abbot of Fontenet (or Fontenay) Le Petit Fontenet was built in the 13th century in Montbard, Comtale city 8 km from the Abbey founded in 1118 by Bernard of Clairvaux. The mother of St. Bernard, Aleth of Montbard, was the Lady of the City and his brother Andrew was one of the nine founders of the Order of the Templar and the fifth master. Abbots Fontenay lived there without doubts until 1547 date when the abbey was placed under commende.

In 1768 the naturalist Buffon bought the Petit Fontenet to the Knights Hospitaller successor Cistercian for locating its Chemistry laboratory and library. Buffon wrote here much of his work. Le Petit Fontenet was acquired from last Countess of Buffon, Betsy Daubenton died in 1852, by Ms Desgrand, a daughter of Marc Seguin whose family (Montgolfier) had bought the Abbey of Fontenay. The building went into the family of the current owners through the Lefort, notaries of Nadault de Buffon and Desgrands heirs. Buffon destroyed the upper 2nd floor and replaced the galleries connected to a tower by stairs. He opened new windows in the facade but retained a pair of lobed Gothic windows separated by a bear sculpture, similar to one of the doors of the Church of Noyer-sur-Serain which the Lord Mile helped found the Abbey of Molesmes and the second crusade. A monumental fireplace and a 13th century ceiling are kept on the ground floor. The tower and the paving of the courtyard may have been changed in the 14th century. To contribute to the development of the Navy, Buffon studied how the debarking of oak prior down cutting preserve the sapwood and thus realized the floor of his library.