The buildings of the Abbey are arranged around the superb Gothic cloister whose four galleries lead to separate areas for living, work and prayer; to the west, the lay brothers' building is separated from the cloister gallery by a lane; to the north lie the spectacular ruins of the church; next to them are the sacristy and the chapter room, which was destroyed and today has been converted into a library; to the south, the monks' refectory, a masterpiece of early Gothic art, and the kitchens, both magnificently restored in 2002.
In one of the two courtyards on the southern side of the Abbey a garden inspired by the Middle Ages was created in June 2004. The park and its canals show that the Royaumont Abbey belonged to the Cistercian Order, renowned for its hydraulic expertise. Here the monks undertook major construction work to bring water to the site, diverting and channelling two rivers. The latrine building, divided in two by a canal, can still be seen at Royaumont.
> map > The cloister > The monks' building > The latrine building > The sacristy > Church ruins > The refectory > The kitchens > The lay brothers' building > The library
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