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Be sure to visit the Abbey Museum
Beausoleil Says: The Musée Ochier, in the abbey palace, has remains of Romanesque sculptures. Remains of both the abbey and the village constructed around it are displayed, as well aspart of the Monks' Library.There are concerts there too. We walked in with the musicians, followed...
PierreZA Says: The Market in Cluny was of the better ones we attended in Burgundy. Very good fresh produce were on sal, and the whole town came alive.Saturdays are market days.
Study the Maquettes in the Fariniere
hquittner Says: Careful models of how Cluny III looked before its devastations, were made by Conant and his helpers. These are now exhibited with the recovered stonework in the Fariniere. They help a visitor to visualize the size and magnificence of the buildings and their protective...
hquittner Says: It is important to realize that the carving of capitals began shortly after 1050 after centuries of an absence of sculptural technic. It began in a workshop (or two) in the Moissac and Toulouse area. These monasteries and churches were in very close affiliation with Cluny...
The Flour Store (Fariniere) Is a Museum
hquittner Says: The 13C Flour Store being utilitarian was not destroyed during the Revolution. It retains its original chestnut roof on the upper story and today houses most of the sculptural finds (capitals and other decorations), models plus a few pieces of columns and an altar...
Look at the National Stud (Haras)
hquittner Says: The area of the stud overlaps the monastery grounds and part of it was built of stone quarried from the destroyed church. Guided tours occur during the February-June period but we did not enter.
Find the Chapel of Jean de Bourbon
hquittner Says: The Chapel of Jean de Bourbon was added to the South side of the shorter eastern second transept in 1456-85 and is in late Gothic style. Jean was the first commendatory Abbot and with his appointment , the monastery began its slow decline and loss of power. The12 carved...
hquittner Says: Essentially built between 1088 and 1130 (with additions) , Cluny III was at the time the largest Catholic church in Europe, 600 feet long and 100 feet high in the South Tower. The remains of the church are minimal but the giant transept is worth the visit. This great...
Visit the Abbey-complex - Intoduction
PierreZA Says: Do give yourself enough time to visit the abbey. The 'tour' starts at the museum - you will find directions all over town 'abbey-tickets'. The tours are only in French, although you will pay the same entrance fee despite the fact that you will not understand a word of...
reenby Says: Take the guided tour of the abbey. Our guide was very enthusiastic even if his english was not always up to the task.The abbey was huge, you can only get an idea of its size from todays remains. The abbey grew in power until it rivalled Rome and was unimaginably rich. It was...
PierreZA Says: Beautiful buildings. They have organized tours during the afternoons.The ticket office is only open as from a few minutes before the tours.Unfortunately it is only in French.
PierreZA Says: Do visit this important archeological site. It is only about 30 minutes drive from Cluny. The museum is well designed and very informative. Audio is available in English.After visiting the museum, you can take a hike to the top of the rock of Solutre.
PierreZA Says: Besides the amazing visit of the abbey, it is worth walking along the old walls. You will find original entrances, wash-houses, the other towers, the Hotel-Dieu de Cluny, and many other interesting sights.You will also find a view point which gives great views of the town...
PierreZA Says: This tower is apparently the oldest of all the surviving buildings of the abbey. Climb the stairs for an amazing 360 degree view. It also gives a better idea of how the abbey was built.You buy tickets from the desk at the tourist info.
PierreZA Says: Take a few minutes to visit this beautiful old cathedral. The crucifixion is a focus point as you walk into this old building.
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We had dinner in the restaurant attached to our hotel. You have to tell them before if you plan to eat there. They have a set "menu", a choice of appetizers, soup, main course and dessert for 22 Euro. A lot cheaper than ordering the items by themselves! A Crémant de Bourgogne as apéritive, a good local wine during the meal, I'm getting hungry and thirsty again just describing it.
They have an open fireplace in the dining - room; it made a very cosy atmosphere. We were somewhat startled when the background music switched to "Silent Night", after all it was early March, even when it was cold and snowing.
The choice of vegetarian dishes is limited, but they were very friendly and helpful and took their time to explain the ingredients to us.
Update July 2008:
The restaurant is just as good as ever! The price for the menu has gone up, it's now 25 Euro and we had to pay for the water. In March 2006 this was free, maybe because we were staying in off-season.
We had an appetizer brought to us by the waiters, who explained that it was salmon paste with pepper, excellent. Then goat cheese pastry,fish, guinea fowl, ratatouille, black currant sorbet, a cheese platter, a good regional wine, alltogether 115 Euro for four people , more that we'd usually spend but worth it for a special occasion.
Updated Jul 27, 2008
Address: Place de L'Abbaye, F 71250 Cluny
Website: www.hotel-cluny.com
PierreZA Says: Try not to drive around in the central part. It is much easier to park your car and walk. There is actually no reason to drive around as everything is in walking distance.
christine.j Says: The old part of Cluny is the most interesting, but it's a nightmare to drive there. There's no need to, as there is a good road leading all around it and a large,free parking lot. Inside there are a few parking spaces, but several times I saw the police walking around and...
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About 15 kilometers from Cluny there is a large cave system, the Grottes de Azé.During the stone age people have lived in the caves. The skeleton of a cave bear was found there and can still be seen. There is a small museum where you can learn more about the stone age and the caves.
We were there in August 2004, it was very hot outside, but cold inside, also wet. When you plan to join a tour into the caves, bring a warm sweater and wear good shoes, no sandals.
The tour is in French only, but there are leaflets in English available.
Written Mar 21, 2006
Website: http://perso.wanadoo.fr/richez/Bourgogne/Aze.htm
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Favorite thing: I cannot tell you much about the oldest house in Cluny, so I cannot make this a "what to do" tip. It's just a very nice memory. It was raining heavily, but I was determined to take a few pictures. So I was standing in the pouring rain, when a very old man came and asked me if I was a tourist. I thought he was very polite, dropping the "crazy". Who else but a crazy tourist would be standing in the rain taking pictures??
He then showed me the oldest house in Cluny and told me all about its history.However, about halfway down his long speech my French deserted me, so I only remember that the house changed colour some time during the centuries. I'm not sure if it was white and now is grey or if it was grey and now is white. It didn't look very white to me, but I was seeing it through a sheet of grey rain.
When he had come to an end, we were both pretty wet, but I could tell that he was really happy to have found someone to give this information to.Of course I took a picture of the house and thanked him. (And then went back to the hotel to change into something dry.)
Written Mar 21, 2006
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