Paris has a considerable number of museums and interesting sights that interest inquisitive tourists. Among them is the Museum of the Middle Ages. It compares favorably with other similar establishments in the city, as it managed to preserve the appearance of the nineteenth century. Here you will not find cafes that are usually available in such places. The main feature of the Cluny Museum is the absence of any systematics and orderliness. Its walls are full of oddities that make people feel curious.
A bit of history…
The Cluny Museum of the Middle Ages is located on the site of ancient Roman baths, some of which have survived to this day. Instead, in the fourteenth century, the city's abbey of Cluny was erected. And in the 15-16 centuries, the building was rebuilt by Jacques of Amboise. In the future, the building was converted and rebuilt many more times. It is for this reason that Gothic elements are visible in the building.and the Renaissance. In the process of eternal restructuring, some elements and parts turned out to be completely unnecessary. Therefore, even now you can see passages leading to nowhere, bricked up arches and other incomprehensible elements.
The building was confiscated by the state in 1793. Over the next thirty years, it was used for various purposes. The history of the Medieval Museum itself began in 1933, after Alexandre du Sommer placed his collection of Renaissance and Medieval items here. After his death, the collection was purchased by the state from Sommer's relatives. The museum has been a state museum since 1842.
Where is the museum?
Museum of the Middle Ages is located near the Boulevard Saint-Germain, in the fifth district of Paris. Address of the establishment: Paul Painlevé Square, 6.
The institution occupies two floors of the building. It is a real treasury of all kinds of objects of medieval art and unique tapestries. Many experts believe that the pearl exhibition is a series of tapestries called "The Lady with the Unicorn".
According to tourists, the building itself is an excellent frame for art objects. Here you can see a small chapel, large antique fireplaces decorated with carvings, Gallo-Roman baths and more.
At the Museum of the Middle Ages, you can buy a brochure that contains information about the institution in English and its plan. In each hall of the building there are information sheets with detailed information about the exhibits.
No additional ticket required to visit the shady courtyard.
Ground floor tapestries
The main decoration of the Museum of the Middle Ages in Paris can be called tapestries that adorn most of the halls. To an uninitiated person, they may seem like only part of the scenery. But in fact they are the pride of the collection.
In hall number 3 there is a tapestry depicting the scene of the resurrection of Christ, embroidered with gold. On the other canvas, two leopards are depicted. The tapestry is embroidered with gold and silver.
In the fourth room you can see the Dutch paintings of the sixteenth century. They depict flowers, birds, scenes from the life of the nobility: a servant near a woman with a spinning wheel, a lady in the bathroom, men going hunting.
Room 5 displays alabaster and wood altarpieces made by Nottingham craftsmen in England. All items were found in different temples in Europe.
Display on the first floor
In one of the halls of the Medieval Museum de Cluny in Paris, fragments of stained-glass windows from the famous Sainte-Chapelle chapel are presented. They were brought during restoration work in the middle of the nineteenth century. Such exhibits are very interesting to see up close. The stained-glass windows depict unusual scenes.
If you walk down the stairs, you can get to a modern building that was erected around the ancient baths. This is room number eight. Within its wallsreal masterpieces of the thirteenth century are exhibited. In particular, here are the heads of the Jewish kings from the facade of the famous Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris. A total of 21 heads survived. All of them were cut off from the statues during the French Revolution, which was caused by the iconoclastic mood of the masses.
Heads were considered missing for a long time. They were found only in 1977 near the Opera Garnier building in the process of earthworks. The heads of the kings were badly damaged and destroyed while in the ground. They are displayed in a row and symbolize the trampled grandeur of the once beautiful sculptures.
Thermae
The halls with Gallo-Roman baths are quite well preserved. But they are in need of repair. At the moment, in anticipation of restoration work, the vaults of the hall are reinforced with metal structures. Here are the capitals of the III century, decorated with carvings. They are known as "St. Landry's Column" and "Boatmen's Column".
From the Roman baths you can go to hall number 10, under the vaults of which works of Romanesque art are exhibited. Room 11 features gothic sculptures.
Tapestry "Lady with a Unicorn"
The main exhibit of the Museum of the Middle Ages (photo below) can be called a series of paintings "Lady with a Unicorn". The tapestries are exhibited on the second floor of the building in a specially equipped dark room. Of course, not all museum visitors understand the intricacies of art. And yet all peoplenote the magnificence of the tapestries. The colorful canvases are collected from six episodes, each of which certainly includes a lady with a unicorn and a lion.
According to experts, the tapestries date back to the end of the fifteenth century. Presumably they were created for the Le Vista family in Brussels. However, in general, very little information is available about tapestries. A large number of small flowers, plants, birds are woven on the canvases against a red background, which is why they are called “a thousand flowers.”
It is believed that each tapestry is an allegory of one of the feelings. The main character of each canvas is a young lady who is engaged in various activities: she plays the organ, plays with a unicorn, or collects a necklace. All these episodes are interpreted differently. The last one is of particular interest. The tapestry depicts a woman placing her necklace in a chest held by a maid.
Other exhibits on the second floor
According to reviews, the Museum of the Middle Ages presents a variety of exhibits that at first glance seem completely different and are not united by a single theme. On the second floor, for example, you can see fragments of altars, carved pews, stained glass, ivory, copper and other luxury items.
In hall number 16 you can see church relics made of enamel and gold, as well as Visigoth crowns for vows. All of these items date from the seventeenth century. Particularly draws attentionvisitors a golden Basel rose, made in 1330 for the Pope of Avignon.
Reviews of tourists
According to tourists, the museum is one of the most interesting places in Paris. It contains a unique collection of ancient objects that you must see with your own eyes.
No matter how well they are described in the sources, they must be seen live. The museum can rightly be added to the list of must-sees in Paris.
Museum in Bologna
If you travel a lot and are interested in sights, you should visit another interesting place - the Museum of the Middle Ages in Bologna.
It is located in the fifteenth century Palazzo Gisilardi Fava. It contains objects of the Renaissance and the Middle Ages, dated from the 7th to the 16th centuries. The exposition of the museum contains bronzes, a collection of weapons, armor, ceramics, church utensils, golden chasubles, Bolognese miniatures and much more.
A significant part of the exhibits are sculptures, many of which are real masterpieces. All of them have an interesting history. The museum is of interest to all guests of Bologna. If you have visited this wonderful city, then its outstanding places are worth seeing in order to get acquainted with the art of the Middle Ages. The Italian museum is no less interesting than the one in Paris, so each of them is worth a visit.
