Cistercian Europe: Architecture of Contemplation

There is a renaissance of interest in Cistercian architecture. The simplicity, harmonious proportions, and excellent construction of these abbeys -- many still situated in the wooded intimacy of Europe's rural valleys -- today attract thousands of visitors who come to experience the buildings and to learn more about the medieval men and women who lived there. Cistercian Europe: Architecture of Contemplation offers a lavishly illustrated journey through Europe's magnificent Cistercian abbeys. A leading expert in medieval architecture, Terryl Kinder brings these famous monasteries to life, showing not only where monks lived, worked, and prayed but also how the exquisite architecture of these buildings reflects the spiritual transformation to which their residents aspired.