The Cistercian abbey of Alba Ripa, founded in 1135 by 12 monks from Clairvaux abbey, has witnessed great moments in French history. Its destiny has crossed paths with great people of their time.Resulting from the great monastic movement of the 12th century, the presence of St Bernard is to be found within the abbey's walls. It has an architectural form typical of the Bernardine layout: a church with a flat-walled chevet facing the east, an east wing for the choir-monks, a west wing for the lay-brothers and a communal north wing....