Cluny Abbey - The Former Monastery Empire of the World

Aug. 4, 2010 - PRLog -- The Cluny Abbey is a Benedictine styled monastery that was the centre of a major monastic movement in the Middle Ages. The Church was the largest Christian building in the world that is until St Peter's Basilica was rebuilt in Rome in the 16th century, the churches building was 656ft high.

The Abbey was founded by William I, Count of Auvergne, in 910 AD whom installed the Abbot Berno and placed the abbey under the immediate authority of Pope Sergius III..  Benedictine monks also founded it and offered perpetual prayer, emphasising liturgy and spiritual pursuits over labour and other monastic activities.  They done it to observe a closer adherence to Benedictine rules.  Over 10,000 were part of the monastery, that ranged from people of various countries such as Poland and Scotland.  The monastery was once the greatest power in Europe it was called a 'monastic empire'. This is the reason why the building were so huge as they needed to house everyone and have 40 farms to produce food to feed them.

Now it is a heritage site, after nine centuries of monastic life which includes a Museum of Art and Archaeology housing Romanesque sculpture, a Medieval City rich in Romanesque and Gothic houses, two churches and a Hôtel-Dieu (hospital) with several fantastic paintings by Chaimowicz.  At one point the Cluny library was considered the richest and most important, not only in France but worldwide.  It contained numerous valuable manuscripts however many items were destroyed after the ransacking of the abbey by the Huguenots, which happened in 1562. Whilst many other volumes had fell into private hands and got scattered and could not be recollected.  Some have been recovered and can be found in the Bibliothèque Nationale and the British Museum where there are roughly sixty chapters from Cluny.

This is an important building in the history of Burgundy, when you visit the popular site it the past glories will be in the forefront of your mind. Only a tenth of the monastery remains and a visit of the monastery is almost considered virtual like it doesn't really exist as when you go on a tour the professional guide will advice you to watch an audio visual presentation.  But if you are in the Burgundy region you have to visit this site and stay in one of the Burgundy villas in France while sampling some world class Burgundy wine.

Although the building was destroyed it still exudes its ancient majesty and splendour. It is considered an Architectural tragedy in history as the damage was done during the French Revolution, with church furnishes being burnt, whilst tombs were being overburdened and wrecked. This happened under the first empire but the high octagonal tower, the chapel of bourbon and the ruins of the apse still remain. In 1750 the abbey buildings were rebuilt and now holds a technical school.  A part of the church is now stabling a government stud and the abbot palace serves as an city hall, library and museum.



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