In the Middle Ages, the number 4, or the square, was the symbol of perfection. Cistercian abbeys, which had to live in self-sufficiency, developed gardens capable of covering the daily needs of the monks. In each abbey, the lay brothers cultivated vegetable squares, aromatic squares where medicinal plants were found, technical squares where dyeing and textile plants grew, flower squares for decorating the altars, cereal squares, an orchard, and finally vineyards. Since 2004, the Royaumont Foundation has had a medieval-inspired garden created by landscape gardeners, the garden of the 9 squares.