Saint Bernard was born near Dijon, France in the year 1090. At the age of 22, he became a Benedictine monk at Citeaux, the austere abbey of the Cistercian reform. He did not join alone, however, but brought thirty others with him, among whom were relatives, a testimony to his extraordinary influence on others even at that early age. The abbey flourished and sent out groups to make other foundations, one of which was led by Bernard, and settled at what became known as Clairvaux. It became the center of the Cistercian reform for all of Europe.