Cluny Museum - Paris France

Ok this is one museum that most people that I know that have been to Paris haven't seen. Its not one of the hot spots to visit, but if you know its there you should make sure that you visit. When I went to this museum I was really only given a short amount of time to see a few things that were there. They have a lot of gothic sculptures, and stained glass, but the most impressive thing that this museum had was the tapestries. They have tapestries from all over the world including Italy, Spain, Great Britian and Egypt as well as many from Medieval times. Most people have seen photos of some famous tapestries such as The Lady and The Unicorn, even if they are not familiar with the name of it. The Lady and Unicorn is a set of six tapestries that are some of the most famous in the world. It's estimated that the tapestries were woven around 1460 by hand. They are so famous and so beautiful that the museum has all six hanging side by side in a room that was designed for them. Unicorns were popular to place on tapestries in the Middle Ages, and this set is said to represent the five human senses with the last one being intuition, or what some call the sixth sense.

Just as a ,should you ever see these great masterpieces, here are what they look like and what they mean. The tapestry that means taste has a maiden with a parakeet and a lion and unicorn on either side. There is also a dog that is eating from the floor. The tapestry that means sight has a unicorn kneeling on a maiden's legs and is looking into a mirror. The tapestry that means touch has the maiden holding a banner while touching the unicorn. The tapestry that means smell has a maiden making a flower crown but also features a monkey sniffing a flower. The tapestry that means hearing has the maiden playing an organ and the lion and unicorn are on either side of the organ.

The final tapestry is the one that is the hardest to actually be able to interpret. Many think that it means intuition while some think that its merely conclusion or maybe an introduction to the series. The maiden is in front of a tent with an inscription that means "To My Sole Desire" The maiden's servent is holding a box and she is placing a collier in the box.

Should you find yourself in Paris and have some time go these tapesties even if you see nothing else in the museum, I wish I could have seen the entire museum, but its hard to feel cheated if you see these.

The museum is open 9:15 to 5:45 except on Tuesdays.
Closed Jan. 1, May 1 and Dec. 25

Admission 8,50 €

18-25 years 6,50 €
Under 26 years : free entrance for EU citizen
(Audioguide included in the price)

The first Sunday of the month : free admission
Audioguide is extra on Sunday

Is a part of the Paris Museum Pass

The Website