Cluny Museum

The Musée de Cluny, officially known as the Musée National du Moyen Âge, is one of the cultural treasures of Paris, located in the heart of the Latin Quarter. This museum offers an extraordinary overview of art and life in the Middle Ages, hosting a vast collection of objects ranging from the Gallo-Roman era to the 15th century. The museum complex consists of two main buildings: the Hôtel de Cluny, a magnificent example of Gothic architecture built between 1485 and 1510 as the residence of the monks of the Abbey of Cluny, and the Cluny Baths, ancient Roman baths dating back to the 1st-3rd century AD, which represent one of the few Roman remains still visible in Paris. These two buildings, with their unique combination of medieval and Roman architecture, create a historical atmosphere that immerses visitors in a distant and fascinating past. One of the most famous pieces in the museum is the series of tapestries known as “The Lady and the Unicorn,” created around 1500. These six tapestries, considered masterpieces of medieval art, represent the five senses and a sixth enigmatic tapestry that is presumed to represent love or spiritual understanding. Their intricate craftsmanship and symbolic details offer a deep insight into the culture and aesthetics of the time. In addition to the tapestries, the museum boasts a vast collection of medieval artifacts, including jewelry, sculptures, ecclesiastical furnishings, and objects of daily life. Among these, the Gothic stained glass windows and sculptures from various French churches and cathedrals stand out, illustrating the evolution of sacred art through the centuries. The Cluny Baths, which include the frigidarium, tepidarium, and caldarium, offer a fascinating glimpse into daily life in ancient Lutetia, modern-day Roman Paris. These public baths were not only places of personal hygiene, but also social and cultural centers. The frigidarium, with its imposing vaults and stone walls, is one of the most evocative spaces in the museum, where you can also admire the Pillar of the Nautes, an important testimony to the fusion of Roman and Gallic culture. The Hôtel de Cluny, with its frescoed rooms and vaulted ceilings, represents a superb example of civil Gothic architecture. Originally built as the residence of the abbots of Cluny, the building has retained much of its medieval charm, with architectural details such as crenellated towers, pointed arch windows, and a picturesque inner courtyard. This unique environment helps make the museum visit an immersive and evocative experience. The history of the Musée de Cluny is marked by various restoration and expansion projects. In 2011, the French Ministry of Culture initiated a large renovation project, known as “Cluny 4,” which included the reorganization of collections, the cleaning of the Roman baths, and the construction of a new building for additional services. The museum reopened to the public in 2022, offering an enhanced and more accessible exhibition experience.