Musee de Cluny--Musee de Moyen Age

Roman-era carvings

February 6th, 2018

Roughly three blocks' walk from our apartment is a lovely small museum with an interesting and varied collection.  The Museum of the Middles Ages is housed in a structure built originally during Roman times as a bath, which was then extensively expanded by the Abbots of Cluny in the 14th Century.  Elements of each remain and can be viewed and walked through.  In fact, the part of the building that was the bath is the best preserved Roman structure in Paris.  In addition, many architectural elements from other locations around Paris and France have been brought to the museum and are on display.  There are fragments of a Roman-era column carved with images of both Roman and Celtic gods worshipped in Paris (then Lutetia).  We saw a large portal originally part of the abbey at Saint Germain-des-Pres.  One of the most interesting exhibits had restored windows from Sainte-Chapelle and other chapels and churches.  They were spectacular, and you can see them close-up, unlike in situ, where they are always at a distance.  

We found out that the museum will be undergoing an extensive renovation, which will close it entirely from March until July, so Glenn and I decided to stop by on Saturday.  (Kate has already been twice without us.)

Glenn standing at the entrance

Detail on the exterior wall

Statue of Saint Denis, who carried his own
head some distance after being martyred

Detail from a tapestry---not sure what the activity is.  The room with the most famous
tapestries in the museum---the lady and the unicorn tapestries---
was already closed for renovation.

Detail from stained glass window,
perhaps from Sainte-Chapelle, but I can't remember.

Detail of portal from Saint Germain-des-Pres

This stained glass window is from the 16th Century, I think, but Glenn
commented that it would have fit in to the Arts and Crafts Movement
of the 19th Century very comfortably. 

Detail from another stained glass window

Carving on a mantelpiece in building