A canal runs the full length of this building, which is one of the most original elements of the Abbey today. It is a demonstration of the Cistercians' ability to control water energy in the Middle Ages.
The water for the canal is channelled from two rivers over a distance of several kilometres. The canal also collects waste water from the kitchens through a secondary canal and rainwater through gargoyles.
The walls are medieval but the windows and doors were largely rebuilt in the classical period, when the prior had his living quarters on the upper floor and there was an orangery on the ground floor.
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| | © Jérôme Johnson |
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