ABBEY CLUNY
Massive Benedictine Monastery Ruins in Southern Burgundy
Once
one of the most important Benedictine Abbeys in France, the
impressive remains of the once fortified monastery take up several blocks
in the southern Burgundy town of the same name. Originally established
in 910 by William the Pious, several powerful abbots where established
here as the Abbey at Cluny became the mother seat of the French Bendictine
monastic order and center of control for over 1,000 monasteries throughout
Europe. Cluny is located in the midst
of the wine country of south Burgundy (Bourgogne) not far from the
small village with the name of Chardonnay.
Cardinal
Richelieu was probably the most famous Abbot of Cluny, but the religious
wars of Europe eventually brought the monastery to
a grand decline. The once huge primary abbey
church was almost completely destroyed, with the foundations and columns
only remaining to indicate its huge dimensions. The Tour de Fromages
is the oldest surviving building in the complex still standing. The Tour
Ronde dominates the approach to the abbey for the casual visitor.
The architecture evident is a mix of Romanesque and Gothic.
The cloisters
reconstructed in 1750 were built on the site of the original earlier
Romanesque courtyard. The interior vaults of the great transcept were
once the tallest Romanesque vaults in the world. The ruins of Cluny
give
the same majestic impression as the great ruins of Rome. The tour begins
with a 3-D film showing what the Abbey was like when it was in operation
and a model provides a look at the original scale of the place. Combine
a visit to Cluny with the well preserved Abbey at Tournus, a
half
hour away,
for a complete
picture of the monastic world of central France.
For
a unique historic hotel stay in southern Burgundy during a wine tour
or historic
site
exploration
the Hotel Restaurant de Bourgogne in
Cluny is located within the former grounds of the abbey. Built in 1817
the hotel built along the walls along the side of the Abbey of Cluny
is furnished with authentic 19th century period furniture and a garden
restaurant under the ancient stone of the monastery. The Hotel
de Bourgogne Cluny offers
12 guest rooms starting at about 80 Euros and 3 apartments for up to
5 persons, with a bar, elegant lounge and private garage. The restaurant
provides a seasonal menu of local Burgundy cuisine and wines.
Next
to the Cluny Abbey is the grand horse galleries of the historic horse
breeding center of Cluny, still active with equestrian events, stteple
chase, dressage and races at the Cluny Hippodrome throughout the spring,
summer and autumn. Cluny is also home to the Haras National de Cluny
- the
horse
insemination
breeding center.
So, should horse breeding be your interest and you want to bring
home a sample other than a local wine, don't forget to
bring
your plastic cup. © Bargain
Travel Europe
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Abbey Cluny
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See Also:
CHÂTEAU
DE CORMATIN
A
SAINT, A CHANTEUSE AND AN EMPEROR
