FONTFROIDE ABBEY

FRANCE

IMAGE NUMBER 751c

The Cistercian Abbey of Fontfroide was founded in 1145, and became one of the most important and richest Cistercian abbeys in France.  It is 20klm from Carcassonne.  The abbey fell into decay following the Plague of 1348.  It was subsequently run by noblemen who were given the title of Abbots without being monks.  They added various luxuries which make parts of the abbey look more like a château than a Cistercian abbey.   A wealthy local family bought the ruins early last century and spent years restoring the abbey.

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a tripod-mounted Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 35. Exposure of 1/3rd of a second and an aperture of f22.  45 mm Phase One wide angle lens with focal plane shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.