For four centuries this was the largest church in Christendom, a vast Romanesque basilica that stood until St. Peter’s in Rome finally surpassed it. Most of it is gone now, pulled down after the Revolution, but what survives still takes your breath away.
The soaring south transept rises alone above the Burgundian rooftops, and the Farinier holds the carved capitals that changed European sculpture. Book your tickets and walk through the ruins of medieval Europe’s most powerful monastery!
The soaring south transept rises alone above the Burgundian rooftops, and the Farinier holds the carved capitals that changed European sculpture. Book your tickets and walk through the ruins of medieval Europe’s most powerful monastery!
Key Highlights
- Stand beneath the surviving south transept and its great bell tower
- See the celebrated carved capitals of the choir in the Farinier
- Explore the Musée d’Art et d’Archéologie in the Palais Jean de Bourbon
- Discover the Cluny monetary treasury with silver coins and Almoravid gold dinars
- Walk the footprint of what was once Christendom’s largest church
- Trace the story of the monastic order that reformed the medieval Church
- Wander the abbey grounds and later monastic buildings
About Abbaye de Cluny Ticket
Cluny Abbey was founded in 910 by William the Pious, Duke of Aquitaine, in a quiet corner of Burgundy. Unusually for its time, it was placed directly under papal protection rather than local lordship, and that independence let it grow into something extraordinary. Within two centuries it headed a network of more than a thousand monasteries across Europe and drove a reform movement that reshaped the medieval Church.
Its abbey church, Cluny III, was the physical expression of that power. Begun in 1088, it stretched to some 187 metres and remained the largest church in Christendom until St Peter’s Basilica was rebuilt in Rome. After the French Revolution the abbey was sold off and the church was largely demolished for stone, leaving roughly eight per cent of the original building standing.
What remains is still remarkable. The south transept rises to nearly 30 metres with its octagonal Clocher de l’Eau Bénite, and the scale of the vanished nave is laid out across the site so you understand just how vast it was. The Farinier, the former granary, houses the famous carved capitals from the choir, among the most important pieces of Romanesque sculpture in existence.
A single ticket also covers the Musée d’Art et d’Archéologie in the Palais Jean de Bourbon, displaying sculpture from the church and monastic town, plus the permanent treasury exhibition with hundreds of silver coins minted at Cluny, twenty-one gold Almoravid dinars and an exceptional signet ring.
Allow one to two hours. The site is managed by the Centre des monuments nationaux and is a UNESCO candidate.
Book through Thrillark and secure your entry at the best available rate.
Its abbey church, Cluny III, was the physical expression of that power. Begun in 1088, it stretched to some 187 metres and remained the largest church in Christendom until St Peter’s Basilica was rebuilt in Rome. After the French Revolution the abbey was sold off and the church was largely demolished for stone, leaving roughly eight per cent of the original building standing.
What remains is still remarkable. The south transept rises to nearly 30 metres with its octagonal Clocher de l’Eau Bénite, and the scale of the vanished nave is laid out across the site so you understand just how vast it was. The Farinier, the former granary, houses the famous carved capitals from the choir, among the most important pieces of Romanesque sculpture in existence.
A single ticket also covers the Musée d’Art et d’Archéologie in the Palais Jean de Bourbon, displaying sculpture from the church and monastic town, plus the permanent treasury exhibition with hundreds of silver coins minted at Cluny, twenty-one gold Almoravid dinars and an exceptional signet ring.
Allow one to two hours. The site is managed by the Centre des monuments nationaux and is a UNESCO candidate.
Book through Thrillark and secure your entry at the best available rate.
Inclusions
- Admission to the Abbaye de Cluny
Exclusions
- Audio guide
- On-site guide and guided tours
- Food and drinks
- All personal expenses not listed in the inclusions
Insiders' Tips
Walk the outline of the vanished nave before entering the transept, since understanding the original footprint is what makes the surviving fragment so startling.
Additional Information
Operating Hours
- Last admission 45 minutes before closing
- Closed 1 January, 1 May, 1 November, 11 November and 25 December
Child Policy
- Free admission for children under 18 accompanied by family members
- Free admission for EU citizens and French residents aged 18 to 25
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- The site involves walking across uneven historic ground
- Allow around an hour for a family visit
Accessibility & Facilities
- Dedicated services are available for visitors with disabilities depending on need
- Free admission for disabled visitors and their carers
- Free admission for job seekers with documentation
- Interpretation facilities are provided throughout the visit route
- Contact the monument in advance to arrange specific support
- No luggage storage service is available
Restrictions
- No entry in the final 45 minutes before closing
- Items larger than 55 x 35 x 20 cm are not permitted
- Luggage storage is not available on site
- Animals are not allowed
- Free admission categories require valid supporting documentation
Other
- Free admission on the first Sunday of each month from November to March
- Free admission on the third weekend of September for European Heritage Days
Cancellation Policy
Tickets cannot be cancelled and are non-refundable
My Voucher
Show mobile ticket at redemption counter
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a visit to Cluny Abbey take?
Most visitors spend one to two hours exploring the abbey and the museum. The site is not large by modern standards, since most of the original church is gone, but the museum and the capitals reward unhurried attention. Allow longer if you want to walk the full monastic grounds.
Why is Cluny Abbey historically important?
Founded in 910, Cluny headed a network of over a thousand monasteries and drove a reform movement that reshaped the medieval Church for two centuries. Its abbey church was the largest in Christendom until St Peter’s in Rome was rebuilt. Its influence on Romanesque architecture and sculpture spread across Europe.
How much of Cluny Abbey is still standing?
Roughly eight per cent of the original abbey church survived demolition after the French Revolution. What remains is the south transept with its bell tower, rising close to 30 metres, along with the Farinier and several later monastic buildings. The footprint of the vanished nave is marked out across the site.
Do children need a ticket for Cluny Abbey?
No, children under 18 accompanied by family members enter free. EU citizens and French residents aged 18 to 25 also enter free, as do disabled visitors with their carers and registered job seekers. Valid documentation is required for all free admission categories.
Where is Cluny Abbey located?
It stands in the town of Cluny in Saône-et-Loire, in southern Burgundy, roughly halfway between Mâcon and Chalon-sur-Saône. The abbey dominates the centre of the town, which grew up around it. It is an easy detour for anyone travelling through the Burgundy wine country.
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