The prestigious Abbey of Cluny in Burgundy
The abbaye of Cluny : un unforgettable religious edifice
Founded in 909 or 910 by William the Pious, the Abbey of Cluny is one of the most famous in Burgundy. At its consecration, it was placed under the protection of Rome and became a model for numerous monasteries that were placed under its control.
The Zenith of Cluny, shining tribute to christianity
When it was created, Cluny abbey was a modest sized monastery. It is over the centuries that it underwent several renovations, until it became one of the most imposing abbeys in Christianity.
The three renovation projects on the abbey were named Cluny I, Cluny II and the most important: Cluny III, or “ Maior Ecclesia”.
At the time of the construction of the abbey, 12 monks lived at Cluny. The Cluny I project constructed the first abbey church, competed in 927. The second project, Cluny II was intended to replace the first building, which had become too small. This building was consecrated in 981. Finally, the last chapter, the most impressive, began in 1088. It was promoted by the abbot of this era, Hugues de Semur, who decided to construct an abbey church. This was the largest ever constructed, and it remained the largest church in Christianity for 400 years. Completed in 1130, its size greatly surpassed that of the old buildings: 187 meters long, forty meters elevation under the dome, five naves, two transepts, 5 bell towers and 501 windows.
It was not just an abbey church. The monks followed the rules of Saint Benoît, “Pray and Work” and this is the reason that it produced a sizable number of products every day. Their products supported their needs. They farmed the land that they owned. But they also had cobbler's shops, a tannery and a scriptorium.
The progressive decline of the abbey
Sadly, in the XIIth century, the abbey began to decline. Over time, work was abandoned in favor of prayer. The land and the finances were not managed properly. Despite this, it was decided that a vast complex to accommodate more monks in the abbey be constructed.
However, the monks did not have the time to attend to it. The revolution broke out shortly after the beginning of the project, and the work was abandoned. During the revolution, the monks were expelled and dispersed into the surrounding parishes, and the riches that were accumulated over the years, the stained glass, the furniture, was pillaged. The buildings were then seized and put up for sale in 1798 and the church, taken over by building supply companies, was essentially destroyed. Today, only a part of the building exists, but the ruins allow us to envisage the grandeur of the edifice. These ruins were classified as historic monuments in 1862.Les bâtiments restants de l’abbaye abritent depuis la fin du 19ème siècle, l’un des huit campus d’Arts et Métiers ParisTech, grande école d’ingénieurs françaises.
The remaining buildings of the abbey have, since the 19th century, housed one of the eight campuses of Arts et Métiers ParisTech, the great French engineering school.
Several virtual reconstructions of the abbey have been created to more closely visualize the immensity of the initial building. There is a 3D film that lets you discover the abbey church reconstituted at the time of its zenith.
Today, you can visit the last remaining buildings of this impressive abbey that was once the glory of Christianity.
Opening hours and rates
The open hours of the abbey depend on the time of year:
- January 1 – March 31: 9:30 a.m./5:00 p.m.
- April 1 – September 30: 9:30 a.m./5:00 p.m.
- July 1 – August 31: 9:30 a.m./7:00 p.m.
- October 1 – December 31: 9:30 a.m./5:00 p.m.
Rates
- Regular rate: €9.50
- Reduced rate: €7.50
- Group rate: €7.50
- School group rate: €30.00
- School group rate: €30
Discover the most beautiful Burgundian abbeys:
- Cîteaux
- Cluny
- Fontenay