Musée de Cluny

One of Paris' most enjoyable museums and underappreciated museums! Besides the museum's staring attraction of the enveloping unicorn tapestry room, this museum has hundreds of amazing pieces of painting, sculpture, stained glass, jewelry, and architecture. The building itself is a marvel as well, helping you engage with the art, relate to it in a personal level, and reveal the middle ages as "A Distant Mirror". I highly recommend the book of that title by Barbara Tuchman as preparation for seeing the museum. This museum is in the Paris museum card. Remember to see the chapel and the outdoor courtyard

I highly recommend visiting the National Museum of the Middle Ages (Musée de Cluny). One very practical bonus is the free cloakroom, where you can leave your winter coat and bags — extremely convenient, especially in colder seasons. The museum itself is quite large and divided into different sections. My main reason for visiting was “The Lady and the Unicorn” tapestries, which truly are the highlights of the museum. They were genuinely striking. What impressed me most is how they express a sense of female autonomy and self-awareness as early as the 14th–15th century. The symbolism of the unicorn is also very different from the modern, fairy-tale interpretation we have today. These tapestries left a strong impression on me. Beyond that, many of the other exhibits are fascinating as well — especially the ivory carvings, which feel irreplaceable and truly represent masterpieces of human artistry. Some of the staff-like objects on display are also intriguing, and their historical background is worth looking into if you’re interested. Downstairs, the Roman bath remains are another highlight. The ancient bathing pool is particularly interesting, and if you’re into archaeology, this part alone is worth the visit. The way the museum connects ancient Roman remains with medieval art creates a meaningful dialogue between the past and the present. Overall, this museum is absolutely worth visiting. If you’re in Paris, don’t miss it.

Probably the most overlooked major museum in Paris. The Medieval collections are wonderful and well worth seeing, but it should be noted that its a museum focused on Medieval art rather than giving a more rounded picture of the period and society. The Roman baths within the museum complex are incredible and very important archaeologically but have no interpretation and sadly become little more than a nice backdrop to one gallery, which is a massive missed opportunity. The outdoor elements of the baths were also inexplicably closed off. It feels as if the museum didn't want to dilute its Medieval theme by highlighting them too much. The staff at the entrance were stunningly unfriendly but those in the galleries were nicer

If you are a fan of the middle ages or if you just like museums, this is a great place to visit. It is so big and you can see so many medieval remains. The lady and the unicorn tapestry alone is worth visiting at least once. It is also.situated right next to the 2000 year old roman bath remains.

There's so much cool stuff in France. Since all this medieval art and artifacts was so interesting. I love the less refined and more chaotic artistic expression. Would highly recommend going.

While the museum specializes in the Middle Ages, the most famous works in their collection, and deservedly so, are the Unicorn Tapestries, a magnificent example of the millefleurs style from ca 1500. Another later item (a chess set) caught my eye. The actual medieval objects are mostly reliquaries, etc from churches, and the lovely building itself upstages them.

I love medieval art, so naturally really enjoyed my visit to the Cluny museum. It's full of medieval sculptures, reliefs, artwork, jewellery, armour, and TAPESTRIES - these are simply stunning! A darkened room with huge tapestries of Lady and the unicorn, from floor to ceiling, you can explore the details close too. There are other tapestries as well, which are also amazing. I highly recommend visiting this beautiful museum!

Not a very large overwhelming museum but a petite and well kept wonderful museum. Great tapestries in 19,20,21 and very good collection of Christian relics. The courtyard is fantastic. Time spent 2hrs.

This is the museum of medieval art in Paris. You can get there in the 5th arrondissement. The building is very pretty. They have Roman baths there, too.

This is a fantastic museum I am so glad I made it a point to visit on this trip to Paris. Along the museum and around the corner were vendors selling food and other items. This museum is one of my favorites in Paris , it was also less crowded then the Louvre! The museum has art and artifacts from BC area to the Middle Ages. The Middle Ages art is wonderful they really have a great collection and any fascinated my history will love this museum. The collection of 6 tapestries from 1500 is the highlight and they are in excellent condition. I recommend everyone includes this museum when in Paris!

Excellent museum with some interesting Roman archaeological exhibits. But the real attraction is the "Lady and the Unicorn" tapestries. Definitely worth a visit.

According to our tour guide this museum partly housed in the largest extant Roman bath in France. Most of the Roman bath were destroyed so it's wonderful to be able to see one of them in Paris:-) On the second floor of this museum you can see the Lady and the Unicorn .

The particular time I visited made the visit three stars instead of four. The mid evil architecture portion of the museum was closed for preservation maintenance. This small museum consists of the Hôtel de Cluny, a medieval palace built in the 15th century and the remains of a 2nd century Roman thermal baths. Both were closed. I did tour the open portion to take in medieval sculptures, paintings, tapestries, goldsmith works to hunting and textiles. The textile area was interesting. The highlight was the room with the six tapestries of the lady and the unicorn. The museum layout doesn't flow well since it's placed over four floors of part of the old palace. The attached garden is small and cute.

The museum and the garden was under construction when I went. Why does everyone go even when it's under construction??? The Lady and the Unicorn tapestries in red. The blue one is in the Cloisters in NYC. Same artist. It's a bit amazing to walk into a room and see all the tapestries. Unfortunately, there was a group of students construed around the room as well. Tourist tip - even if half the museum is closed go in. A - it's a great way to kill some time on a rainy day in Paris B - I'm sure you'll see something you can't see at home. C - If you've seen it in a book or the internet there's nothing like seeing it in person.

The Cluny Museum is the Middle Ages Museum. It is smaller and more manageable than many of the other Paris museums. It's also less well known, but they still had a fantastic collection with no crowds or line. I enjoyed some of the old wooden furniture pieces that were originally finely decorated, similar to how the stone pieces were decorated. It showed signs of wear after 500 years. The wood catches my eye because it is a material that was once alive and is now in slow decay, compared to the stone that has always been dead and has less of a connection with the actual creators. I can also imagine who used the furniture or how it was used. This might also be why I also enjoyed the well-used fireplace and the books. Was the fireplace used for cooking, heating, or decoration? Also, the books were older than the Gutenberg press, meaning, that each page was handwritten. The pages were artistic, both in terms of the pictures drawn on each page and the stylized handwriting. How many times did the writer get to the end of the page only to mess up and start over again?

I was delighted by Musée de Cluny. Medieval art tends to be very Catholic, so there was quite a bit of that here, but I came here for La Dame à la Licorne, the Lady and the Unicorn tapestries. They're stunning. I could've sat there for an hour, admiring the craftsmanship and artistry. No photo will ever do them justice, you have to sit with them to feel their feminine warmth. If you have the Paris museum pass, it's absolutely worth stopping by to see the tapestries. If you have a love of medieval art and artifacts, you'll thoroughly enjoy yourself. The museum itself is beautiful, and I had a lovely time exploring. Also, the gift shop is great! I found the perfect gift for my mom, a gorgeous, high quality change purse, and I got a magnet for myself.

Unicorns do exist... at least in France. And if you doubt me, you should visit the Lady and the Unicorn tapestries (La Dame à la Licorne) at the Musée de Cluny in Paris. Because I will do almost anything to avoid a line, I made strategic use of my time by starting my day here. Rather than fight the mass of humanity at the Louvre or Musee d'Orsay, I purchased my Paris Museum Pass here and was given the choice of paying in US dollars or Euros. No lines and no waiting at 9:15a on a Saturday and the staff was lovely. This is officially called the National Museum of the Middle Ages (Le musée national du Moyen Âge) and the location, l'hôtel des abbés de Cluny, is a wonderful backdrop for the collection. It is a mix of architecture, some of it crumbling, and the earliest structure are the ruins of Roman baths from the third century. The highlight of the collection, which I almost missed, are the tapestries. Many books have been written about the Lady and the Unicorn trying to unlock its secrets and interpret the story. All six of these 15th century works of woven art are displayed here in its own gallery at the top of the stairs on the second floor. The focal point of each are the Lady, a lion and a unicorn, with various other creatures. The first five represent the different senses (for example, touch shows the lady's hand on the unicorn's horn). The sixth scene is interpreted different ways, but generally considered to be love. The red and blue hues are beautiful. There is a small chapel on site, and some beautiful wood and stone carving, stained glass and other relics from this time period. Compared to the hustle and bustle of other locations, I found this a peaceful place to start my day. I have to admit that I was blown away by this museum at first, but then ended up visiting a few other museums that put my initial impressions into perspective. If you are fascinated by this time period, then I highly recommend a visit. It all depends on what appeals to you and this type of collection isn't an option for me in the U.S., which made it particularly interesting. Just don't miss the unicorn. ----- -- Part of the Paris Museum Pass. -- Photography permitted without flash.

I used to LOVE the Cluny. So medieval. So full of quirky things. So many scaffoldings to climb. The tetes of kings and broken bits of window from Sainte Chapelle. Now there seems to be one sleek section of unicorn tapestries. Which is much less good than the old room because it is smaller. The space with the explanations is good... and full of interesting old books. But where is the rest of the collection? I found it in the Louvre. So sad. However, the gardens are still 5 stars.

Missed viewing " the lady and the unicorn " last time in spring as they were in Tokyo ironically. but this time Yay it was like almost private viewing all to myself ! Amazing ! could not be happier. Winter is the best time :)

If you have the Paris Museum Pass and stop by here for an hour between more important stops, it's 4 stars. If you don't have the Paris Museum Pass, are paying cash, and think this is a half day or whole day stop it's 2 stars and you are wasting your money and - more importantly - your time. Compared to the Louvre, L'Orangerie, Orsay, etc. this is not only not in the same ballpark but it's not in the same universe.

Enjoyed this museum, and found it interesting and unique. Especially love the space housing the original Biblical kings. The tapestries, stained glass, and sculptures are all beautiful. I was pleasantly surprised that all exhibits kept my husband's attention.

Disappointed I like some museums, and this is one I was really looking forward to seeing. Unfortunately, it was undergoing extensive renovations when we visited. As disappointing as that is, it is certainly understandable. What was not understandable, however, was the fact that not one employee made mention of the renovations when we were entering. It wasn't a big deal for us, because we had a museum pass. However, I imagine people who paid full price would have been irritated to discover three rooms about unicorns... Seriously...

Great place with very informative information cards in each room. All the 12th-15th century stuff can get a bit overwhelming, but the place has so much detail that's interesting to learn and view. I could see visiting here on every Paris trip. First and foremost are The Lady and the Unicorn tapestries. Reading about them and taking time to view each of them justifies the whole visit. I've never been into tapestries before, other than to note they are big and complex and took a lot of work to make. But these are awesome.

This place is also know as "The Cluny" (and the Metro stop is still called Cluny). It is a lovely little place where in 2 hours you can see the whole collection or just spend the whole time counting the different flora and fauna in the 'The Lady and the Unicorn' tapestries (worth seeing especially if you have seen the ones at the Closters in NYC). They have especially nice pieces of sculpture from churches (interior and exterior). Most of the pieces are due to the 'terror' destroyed after the Revolution including the remnants of Cluny Cathedral which was almost the size of Notre Dame!

This museum is a little off the beaten path but just across the street from the subway stop for Notre Dame. It is worth a visit if you are really into gothic church relics and medieval artifacts but otherwise you might be a bit bored. The star of the show is a set of tapestries called The Lady and the Unicorn. The courtyard park is quite lovely and interesting.

What I really liked was being able to see exhibits up close, in a way you couldn't in the more famous landmarks. For instance, the exhibit on stained glass let you see panes originally from St Chapelle, but from only inches away so you could see every beautiful detail. Similarly, this museum houses the original heads from the Biblical kings on the front of Notre Dame (the ones on the cathedral now are reconstructions). The Lady and The Unicorn tapestries are also wonderful. Included in the Museum Pass, no lineups on a busy Easter weekend.

The building and the grounds are the star of the show - the art and the tapestries are a yawn. Included on the museum pass or I'd have likely passed on it. Go early as lines can get long and the place can get a tad warm and stuffy.

This is an interesting museum of medieval art and statutes. I liked it and it was interesting, though all the displays are only in French and it would have been more educational to have English. Adult entry fee is 8 Euro and worth. Good use of time, but not what I would consider a must-see.

This small museum with artifacts from the middle ages, is rich with tapestries, and sculpture. I very much enjoyed the romp through. A unique and a focused museum.

An interesting collection, but we had trouble with the audioguides -- they kept malfunctioning and switching from English to French with a series of loud beeps. That aside, it seemed as though maybe the collection had been rearranged or something because it was sometimes hard to match the audio to the collection. You'd see a number, type it into the guide and it would start talking about something that you couldn't find. (This could have been 'user error', but we didn't have any similar problems in other Paris museums.) Still, it would have been nice to have more time here. We ran out of time toward the end of the museum just as we got to the really ancient part of the building. So... it's a mixed bag. If you like medieval art, I'd say come and visit and give yourself a fair amount of time, but temper your expectations on the audioguide. ps - Agree with Cassie P. that The Lady and The Unicorn tapestries are amazing and very nicely displayed! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lady_and_the_Unicorn

I was really looking forward to seeing the Lady and the Unicorn tapestries but they weren't even there when I arrived. Nowhere on the website or anywhere at the ticket desk entry did it say the main highlight for the entire museum wasn't open. Half the museum was closed due to renovation works and a majority of the displayed pieces were taken down leaving empty walls. Very dissapointed and wished that I'd known the main attraction and focus of the medieval museum wasn't even there.

This is probably one of my most fave museums in Paris. There is a lovely display of tapestries there, one of which is written about in Lady and The Unicorn (a great book). We visit here each time we go to Paris. Plus, it isn't so huge and you can get through it in a minimal amount of time and then on to shopping!

One of the best museums we visited in France! They allow photos (no flash) and it was only about 8 euros to enter. One very interesting thing is that the museum is an actual 15th century building that was built over a Roman bathhouse. So you have all these layers of history adding to the experience. The museum itself is built in the Flamboyant Gothic style so keep an eye out for gargoyles (called Chimera in french) peering out at you from the rooftops as you approach. The "Lady and the Unicorn" tapestries are housed here and they are amazing in person. Well worth a visit!

Medieval or Moyan Age is a period growing in popularity in the UK so this Parisian example is another must for all culture addicts like me. This 14th century building houses the original collection of Alexandre Du Sommerard, archeologist and art collector. Paris is beautiful city with so many excellent pre Haussmann streets and examples of architecture. The Musee de Cluny is a great offering of both architecture and museum.

The Musee de Cluny is a small gem tucked away in a little square. Although it is not as well known as some of the bigger museums in Paris, such as the Louvre, it houses some of the most magnificent medieval tapestries in the world. It has a series entitled La Dame a la Licorne (The Lady and the Unicorn, which cover whole walls and are in very good condition. It also has some very good sculptures and other artifacts which are of great interest for anyone who enjoys medieval art. Small but perfectly formed would sum up this little gem of a museum to the letter.

We only visited the Louvre, D'Orsay and Cluny as far as museums go and the Cluny is my favorite. It didn't look like much from the very busy St. Michel Blvd, but once you walk through the gates and into the courtyard it's awe inspiring. The tour starts after the gift shop. There happend to be a private choir concert during our visit and I think that added to the ambiance but the combination of the building, collection and history provided something that the Louvre and D'Orsay didn't. PS We visted in December so there were no lines and we didn't even get to see the Lady and the Unicorn tapestery as it was on loan :)

Really good audio guide for non-French speakers. Stunning religious art and treasures from Paris and France. Well worth the entry fee and an excellent choice if its a bit wet.