When Notre-Dame-de-Sénanque Abbey - the construction of which spanned more than 70 years, from 1148 until 1220 - was founded, the Cistercians numbered more than 350 abbeys spread across Europe. This solid organization had enabled them to develop a specific and immediately recognizable architectural style. The Romanesque-style abbey of Sénanque with slate roofs consists of cut limestone assembled in a large regular structure. Its northeast orientation for the conodine and southwest for the main facade was determined by the direction of the Sénancole valley.