A daughter house of Trois-Fontaines and of the lineage of Clairvaux, it was dedicated to Saints Nicholas and Mary (Notre-Dame).
It was founded at the site called "Vieux Montiers" (Old Monastery) by its first abbot, Eustache, around 1135.
Originally a house of Augustinian canons, it adopted the Cistercian rule on 30 May 1144.
Eustache was assisted by a co-abbot, Gervais, and together they greatly expanded the abbey's temporalities.
It had lands and farms in Guidonval, La Basse-Cour, Rotonchamp, Valdivière, Le Saussy, Hurtebise, Bronne, Bouët and Outrivière in Noirlieu, Épensival in Épense, Lalieue in Remicourt, Notaval and Letemple.