The small town of Cluny is in the Saône-et-Loire department of Burgundy, to the north-east of Macon. It is most visited for Cluny Abbey, one of most important abbeys in France, and also has a village centre that is pleasant to explore.
Exploring Cluny Abbey and village
Your visit will undoubtedly start at Cluny Abbey, a listed National Monument in France, but you should also allow yourself time to explore the village which has retained some interesting historic buildings...
Discovering Cluny Abbey
Although the church at Cluny, once the largest in the western world, was largely dismantled by 1810 the parts that remain are still significant and interesting, and give an indication of the original grandeur of Cluny. Parts of the transepts and belltower remain of the abbey church, while among the other remaining buildings you can see the granary, and parts of the towers that stood either side of the entrance.
Inside the transept you can see a chapel with some intricate stonework. Although not much of the original abbey remains some impressive flat screens have been added in such a way that you can turn round to "see" different views of the abbey as it would have looked originally.
In the granary there is an interesting small museum with some of the stone carvings saved from the time that the abbey was dismantled. In the 16th century Palace of Jean-de-Bourbon you can see further examples of stonework that once formed part of Cluny abbey.
The cloister that we see today was added in the 17th century and is nicely maintained but the highlight of your visit is an ascent of the 'Tour des Fromages' which gives you great views over the abbey, the village and the surrounding Burgundy countryside. This tower also has an augmented reality screen allowing you to get an idea of the scale of the abbey buildings before they were dismantled.
There are a couple of other interesting towers to see at Cluny Abbey: the Tour Fabry was built in the 14th century to defend the adjacent gate through the surrounding walls and the Tour ronde was built in the 13th century to protect the north-eastern side of the monastery.
The Museum of Art and Archaeology at the abbey (entrance included in the price of abbey admission) is both interesting and instructive as an aid to understanding what the abbey was like 800 years ago.
History of Cluny Abbey
Founded in the early 10th century, the first abbey was built around 927 - and replaced 70 years later by a more imposing abbey built for the relics of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. The church was replaced again towards the end of the 11th century, with the buildings that we see today in part dating from this third reconstruction.
Because of the presence of the relics of these two important saints, for the two centuries from 910 when the monastery was founded Cluny was second only to Rome in the religious influence it held over the Europe of the time, and the abbots from Cluny were important players on the international political scene.
From that time on the power of Rome over the abbey increased, and theabbey also had financial difficulties, and the authority of the abbey started to diminish. The Wars of Religion further reduced the importance of the abbey.
After the revolution the abbey grounds and furnishings were sold and the demolition of the abbey started and a great deal of the original large roman style church no longer exists. As a result it is the sense of history that you get from a visit to Cluny Abbey that almost as important as the place itself, attractive as it is.
Elsewhere in Cluny
The village of Cluny grew up around the abbey, and is a very pretty village with a few streets of old and attractive houses. The Town Hall is in a building that was the abbatiale palace in the 16th century and the Hotel Dieu can also be visited - built in 1646 it houses a chapel, and the rooms where the sick were treated. You will also see the roman style church of Saint-Marcel.
The market in Cluny is held on a Saturday morning.
If you are a horse enthusiast there is a French 'Haras National' behind the abbey. A national centre for breeding and training purebred horses, the haras can be visited and there are frequently events held where the horses can be admired 'in action'.
Attractions nearby
Among the most popular attractions near Cluny are the Chateau at Cormatin and the village of Brancion, both to the north of Cluny, and Mâcon to the south-west is a larger town with several sights of interest.
You can find more travel ideas in the Saone-et-Loire guide and the Burgundy guide.
Arrange a visit to Cluny
Reserve excursions
Book hotels, car hire and flights
Hotels in Cluny
Booking.com: best prices
For great prices on car hire throughout France and Corsica please visit our recommended partner at RentalCars.com
Map of Cluny and places nearby
Visit near Cluny with France This Way reviews
Cormatin
The beautifully decorated and furnished Cormatin Chateau, from the 17th century, is the highlight of your visit
Cormatin guide
Brancion
Quiet now, in the 15th century Brancion was an important regional centre - hence the monuments in the town
Brancion guide
Solutre-Pouilly
Solutré-Pouilly would perhaps go unnoticed except for the great rock-cliff behind the village that is listed among one of just 30 'Grand Sites of France'
Solutre-Pouilly guide
Macon
After exploring the pleasant town of Macon we suggest a visit to nearby Lamartine's Castle
Macon guide
Tournus
The Abbey of Saint-Philibert is the highlight in Tournus, but you will also discover several other interesting historic sites
Tournus guide
Tournus abbey
The abbey at Tournus is a 12th century abbey in roman style with a cloister, frescoes, rare mosaics and several other highlights
Tournus abbey guide... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Saone-et-Loire
Tourist classifications for Cluny
Cluny is classified as a historical protected town centre' (secteur sauvegardé)
Address: Cluny, Mâcon, Burgundy, 71250, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 46.435, longitude 4.66
Plan your visit to Cluny, Saone-et-Loire
Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby
- Abbaye de Cluny (Cluny): religious monument
- Eglise de Jalogny (Jalogny): religious monument (3 km)
- Eglise de Saint Blaise (Mazille): religious monument (6 km)
- Eglise de Saint Denis (Massy): religious monument (7 km)
- Chapelle aux Moines (Berze-la-Ville): religious monument (11 km)
- Eglise de Saint Martin (Chapaize): religious monument (15 km)
- Roche de Solutré: site of natural beauty (16 km)
- Roche de Solutre / Roche de Vergisson: grand site of france (16 km)
- Eglise de Saint Pierre de Brancion (Martailly-les-Brancion): religious monument (16 km)
- Macon: ville fleurie 4* (20 km)
- Confluence - la Seille: site of natural beauty (23 km)
- Seille (Saône): site of natural beauty (23 km)
Market days in Cluny, France
Regular market(s) are held in Cluny each Saturday. (Markets are held in the morning unless stated.)
The French version of this page is at Cluny (Francais)