Cluny Abbey | The Greatest Monastery In The Medieval World | From Glory To Ruin

In May 2024, Heather and I visited the beautiful town of Cluny in Burgundy, France. We went to see Cluny Abbey; the ancient centre of European Christianity.

Cluny is a place rich in history, charm, and architectural wonder. In this video, we take you on a walk through Cluny’s quiet streets, explore its fascinating past, and reflect on the remains of a once-mighty abbey that helped shape medieval Europe.

We explore the town’s main historical landmarks and the ruins of Cluny Abbey. Along the way, we take in the impressive Romanesque architecture, peaceful cloisters, and the enduring legacy of a site that once held immense power. We also visit the campus of the Arts et Métiers Institute of Technology, where centuries of tradition meet the modern world.

🏛 About Cluny Abbey
Cluny Abbey was founded in 910 AD and went on to become the most influential monastic centre in Christendom during the Middle Ages. At its height in the 12th century, it was the largest church in the world. It held this title until the completion of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome in 1626.

Cluny was the heart of the Cluniac reforms, which transformed monastic life across Europe. The abbey oversaw a vast network of more than 1,500 monasteries and around 10,000 monks. It was not only a spiritual centre but also a major religious, political, economic, and cultural force.

Much of the abbey was destroyed during and after the French Revolution at the beginning of the 10th century, but what survives today still gives a powerful sense of its former grandeur. Visitors come to see the monumental ruins, the elegant Romanesque stonework, and a museum set within the remaining monastic buildings.

📽 Chapters
00:00–00:25 Introduction
00:26–01:45 Abbey Grounds
01:46–02:38 Abbey Ruins
02:39–03:17 Arts et Métiers (Engineering School)
03:18–03:52 War Memorial to Fallen Students and Teachers
03:53–05:49 Maior Ecclesia (The Great Church)
05:50–06:42 Cloister
06:43–06:56 Passage of Galilee
06:57–08:32 Reliquaries
08:33–09:30 Richelieu Door
09:31–10:22 Portail de Cluny
10:23–11:49 Archaeology Museum
11:50–12:26 Close

Join us as we walk through Cluny, exploring its past and reflecting on the rise and fall of one of Europe’s greatest monastic centres.

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Photo Sources:

1. Cluny - arts et métiers - La blouse au cœur du festival de la BD. Article & Photo: Martine Magnon (CLP)
https://www.lejsl.com/edition-macon/2...

2. Reconstitution des portails de Cluny III : des fouilles de Conant à l’imagerie virtuelle en 3D.
Juliette Rollier-Hanselmann. https://doi.org/10.4000/cem.11058

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