Musée de Cluny

Interesting facts

1. 1

   The museum complex integrates the frigidarium, one of the best-preserved Gallo-Roman structures north of the Alps.

2. 2

   The Hôtel de Cluny was built on the foundations of the ancient Roman baths, which were once the largest in Paris.

3. 3

   The 'Lady and the Unicorn' tapestries were discovered in 1841 in the Boussac Castle by Prosper Mérimée.

4. 4

   The museum houses a collection of 21 severed stone heads representing the Kings of Judah, found in 1977 during excavations of the Banque de France.

5. 5

   The facility features a unique 'Medieval Garden' designed with plants historically available during the 15th century.

6. 6

   The chapel of the mansion, the Chapelle des Abbés, features a unique flamboyant Gothic vault structure.

Overview

The Musée de Cluny, officially the Musée national du Moyen Âge, is housed within the 15th-century Hôtel de Cluny, a rare surviving example of medieval secular architecture in Paris. The museum is physically built upon the ruins of the 1st-century Gallo-Roman thermal baths of Lutetia. Its collection centers on European medieval art, including sculpture, stained glass, and illuminated manuscripts. The institution underwent a major multi-year renovation and expansion, completed in 2022, which introduced a modern glass reception building and improved accessibility. The most famous exhibit is the 'Lady and the Unicorn' tapestry cycle, consisting of six late 15th-century Flemish woven panels. The museum grounds include a medieval-inspired garden open to the public without an entry fee. The site serves as both an archaeological ruin and an art repository, spanning from Roman antiquity to the end of the Middle Ages.

Insider tips

• Check the specific climate-controlled room housing the 'Lady and the Unicorn' tapestries, as light levels are kept strictly low to preserve the fibers.

• Allocate extra time to explore the Roman bath ruins, as they are often overlooked by visitors focusing only on the art galleries.

• Visit the medieval garden for a quiet break if the museum galleries become crowded.