Paris Sights

Musée National du Moyen Âge

#15 of 1479 things to do in Paris

#151 of 49054 things to do in Europe

2 reviews | Write a review

  • Address
    • 6 place Paul Painlevé 5e
  • Transport
    • Cluny–La Sorbonne or St-Michel
  • Website
  • Phone
    • 01 53 73 78 00
  • Price
    • adult/child €8.50/free
  • Hours
    • 9.15am-5.45pm Wed-Mon

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Lonely Planet review for Musée National du Moyen Âge

The National Museum of the Middle Ages is housed in two structures: the frigidarium (cooling room) and other remains of Gallo-Roman baths dating from around AD 200, and the late-15th-century Hôtel de Cluny, considered the finest example of medieval civil architecture in Paris.

The spectacular displays at the museum include statuary, illuminated manuscripts, weapons, furnishings, and objets d’art made of gold, ivory and enamel. But nothing compares with La Dame à la Licorne (The Lady with the Unicorn), a sublime series of late-15th-century tapestries from the southern Netherlands now hung in circular room 13 on the 1st floor. Five of them are devoted to the senses, while the sixth is the enigmatic À Mon Seul Désir (To My Sole Desire), a reflection on vanity.

 

Traveller reviews for Musée National du Moyen Âge (2)

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    lightness of the dark ages

    melyuan recommends this,

    The Renaissance has all the fun, so step back in time into an earlier, less well-known period and appreciate Medieval art and architecture.

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    Something for all the family

    krolikbax recommends this,

    I have lived in Paris for 40 years and I have to say that the Cluny museum belongs to my favorites; a museum where you can go alone, with friends or with your kids. The building itself which was the property of the very wealthy abbot of Cluny is a masterpiece of the medieval Paris with its amazing courtyard and it's medieval garden where the students of Sorbonne have their lunch by sunny days. It's very cool to discover that this medieval building host the best conserved roman ruins from Paris (called Lutecia at that time) : The Thermes de Cluny. Part of the visit of the museum of Cluny is this huge roman bath for the inhabitants of Lutecia. It reminds me that the roman civilisation is part of our culture through the middle ages until now. The beautiful collections of the museum reflect all aspects of life in the middle age : wars, knifes and weapons, work in the fields (with a beautiful tapestry of a grape harvest), religion, beliefs, literature and philosophy with the famous tapestry La dame à la licorne (woman with unicorn), one the masterpieces of the museum. All the sculptures, miniatures, stained glass windows, jewelry, tapestries presented have a great artistic value. Definitely a place to see.

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