The Order of Cîteaux, or the Cistercians, came into being at the end of the 11th century (1098), in some swampy forests about twelve and a half miles from Dijon, the capital of Burgundy. After several other attempts, among them one at Molesmes which survived, the dozen or so founders ended up by withdrawing into this region, still uninhabitable at the time. The place seemed to guarantee them the complete solitude they were looking for.