Discover the Musée National du Moyen Âge (Musée de Cluny), home to stunning medieval art like the Lady and the Unicorn tapestries. Enjoy a seamless visit with TLC Paris Concierge.

Musée National du Moyen Âge (Museé de Cluny) – Explore Medieval Masterpieces in Paris

Medieval Art • Gothic Paris • Tapestries, Sculpture & Historic Architecture

Musée National du Moyen Âge (Musée de Cluny) – Explore Medieval Masterpieces in Paris

The Musée de Cluny is one of Paris' most atmospheric museums, dedicated to the art and culture of the Middle Ages. Set within the medieval Hôtel de Cluny and beside ancient Gallo-Roman baths, the museum brings together tapestries, stained glass, sculpture, jewellery, manuscripts and sacred objects in a setting where the architecture itself is part of the experience.

Explore Musée de Cluny
The Lady and the Unicorn · Medieval Tapestries · Gothic Sculpture · Stained Glass · Medieval Jewellery · Illuminated Manuscripts · Sacred Art · Romanesque Art · Gothic Art · Hôtel de Cluny · Gallo-Roman Baths · Thermes de Cluny · Medieval Paris · Latin Quarter · Boulevard Saint-Michel · Sorbonne · Saint-Séverin · Panthéon · Jardin du Luxembourg · Paris History Museums · Paris Museums · TLC Paris Museum Guide

TLC Paris tip: Musée de Cluny works especially well for visitors who want something quieter than the Louvre while still seeing major works of art and extraordinary historic architecture. Combine it with Boulevard Saint-Michel, the Sorbonne, Saint-Séverin or the Luxembourg Gardens for a strong Latin Quarter cultural walk.

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Highlights

The Lady and the Unicorn

Discover the museum's celebrated medieval tapestry cycle, one of the great masterpieces of European medieval art and an essential part of a first visit.

Gallo-Roman Baths

Step inside the extraordinary remains of the ancient Thermes de Cluny, where monumental Roman architecture survives in the heart of today's Latin Quarter.

Medieval Masterpieces

Explore sculpture, stained glass, jewellery, manuscripts, textiles and decorative arts spanning centuries of medieval European craftsmanship.

Hôtel de Cluny

The museum itself is part of the experience: a remarkable late-medieval residence where Gothic architecture meets the remains of ancient Roman Paris.

TLC Paris Concierge note: Musée de Cluny is especially rewarding because the building, archaeology and collection form one experience. Don't visit only for The Lady and the Unicorn — allow time for the Roman baths and the medieval architecture, then continue through the Latin Quarter toward Boulevard Saint-Michel, the Sorbonne, Rue Saint-André des Arts or the Luxembourg Gardens.

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Address & Contact+

Musée de Cluny — Musée National du Moyen Âge

28 Rue du Sommerard, 75005 Paris, France

Tel: +33 1 53 73 78 00 · Official Website ↗

Tickets & Admission+

Full price: €14 · Reduced price: €12

Free admission is available for eligible visitors according to the museum's current conditions.

Prices, free-admission conditions and temporary exhibition arrangements can change — check the official museum website before visiting.

Collection Highlights+

The museum explores around a thousand years of medieval art through an exceptional collection of tapestries, sculpture, stained glass, manuscripts, jewellery, ivory and decorative arts.

  • The Lady and the Unicorn — the museum's celebrated tapestry cycle.
  • Medieval sculpture and architectural fragments.
  • Stained glass from important medieval monuments.
  • Illuminated manuscripts and precious objects.
  • Goldsmith work, enamels, ivory and devotional art.
  • Everyday and ceremonial objects revealing life in the Middle Ages.
The Lady and the Unicorn+

The museum's great icon is The Lady and the Unicorn, a remarkable cycle of six tapestries created around 1500.

Five are traditionally associated with the senses — sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch — while the mysterious sixth, bearing the words À mon seul désir, has inspired centuries of interpretation.

Historic Buildings & Roman Baths+

The setting is part of the experience: the museum brings together the medieval Hôtel des Abbés de Cluny and the remains of the ancient Gallo-Roman Thermes de Cluny.

This unusual combination allows visitors to move between ancient Roman Paris and the medieval city while exploring the collection.

Exhibitions, Tours & Activities+

Alongside the permanent collection, Musée de Cluny presents temporary exhibitions, guided visits, talks, workshops and cultural events throughout the year.

Check the museum programme before your visit — temporary exhibitions can add considerably to the experience.

Transport & How to Get There+

Métro: Cluny–La Sorbonne (Line 10) · Saint-Michel (Line 4)

RER: Saint-Michel–Notre-Dame (RER B & C)

Located in the Latin Quarter, within easy walking distance of the Sorbonne, Boulevard Saint-Michel, the Seine and Notre-Dame.

Opening Hours & Good to Know+

Tuesday–Sunday: 09:30–18:15
Monday: Closed
Ticket office closes at 17:30.

  • Allow around 1½–2 hours for an unhurried visit.
  • Give yourself extra time if a temporary exhibition is running.
  • The museum works particularly well as part of a Latin Quarter walking day.
  • Check the official site for holiday closures, exceptional opening hours and evening openings.
Description
Medieval Art, Historic Paris, Roman Baths, Tapestries & Latin Quarter Culture

Musée National du Moyen Âge – Musée de Cluny

Musée de Cluny offers an atmospheric journey through medieval Europe in the heart of Paris’s Latin Quarter. Set within the historic Hôtel de Cluny and beside ancient Gallo-Roman baths, the museum combines remarkable architecture with sculpture, stained glass, decorative arts and the celebrated Lady and the Unicorn tapestries.

Best For
Medieval art, history & atmospheric museums
Atmosphere
Historic, intimate & contemplative
What To Expect
Tapestries, sculpture, stained glass & Roman remains
First Visit?
Yes, especially for art & history lovers
Location
28 Rue du Sommerard, 5th arrondissement
Nearby
Sorbonne, Boulevard Saint-Michel & Panthéon
Visit Time
1.5–2.5 hours
Highlights
Lady and the Unicorn, Roman baths & medieval masterpieces
Visitor Highlights
Musée de Cluny · Musée National du Moyen Âge · Lady and the Unicorn · Medieval Art · Medieval Paris · Medieval Tapestries · Stained Glass · Medieval Sculpture · Decorative Arts · Roman Baths · Gallo-Roman Paris · Hôtel de Cluny · French History · Historic Museums Paris · Latin Quarter · Rue du Sommerard · Boulevard Saint-Michel · Sorbonne · Panthéon · Luxembourg Gardens · Boulevard Saint-Germain · Rue Saint-André des Arts · Shakespeare and Company · Notre-Dame · Île de la Cité · Seine River · 5th Arrondissement · Museums in Paris · Paris Cultural Attractions

TLC Paris Concierge note: Musée de Cluny is an excellent choice when you want a quieter and more intimate cultural experience than Paris’s largest museums. Allow time for The Lady and the Unicorn and the Roman remains, then continue through the Latin Quarter toward Boulevard Saint-Michel, the Panthéon, Luxembourg Gardens or the Seine.

Musée National du Moyen Âge – Medieval Paris at the Musée de Cluny

In the heart of the Latin Quarter, the Musée de Cluny – Musée National du Moyen Âge offers an atmospheric journey through medieval art, architecture, and everyday life. The museum itself is part of the experience, with collections displayed within the late-medieval Hôtel de Cluny and alongside the remains of ancient Gallo-Roman thermal baths, creating an unusual connection between Roman Paris and the Middle Ages.

The museum’s most celebrated treasure is The Lady and the Unicorn, an extraordinary series of six tapestries created around 1500. Five evoke the senses — sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch — while the mysterious sixth, bearing the words À mon seul désir, continues to inspire interpretations around love, desire, identity, and free will.

Beyond the tapestries, the collection includes sculpture, stained glass, illuminated works, jewellery, textiles, and decorative objects that reveal both the artistic sophistication and everyday culture of medieval Europe. Stone architecture, fragments from vanished buildings, and centuries-old objects give Cluny an immersive atmosphere quite different from a conventional historical museum.

Its location makes the museum particularly easy to combine with a wider Left Bank itinerary. Nearby are Boulevard Saint-Michel, the Sorbonne, the Panthéon, Boulevard Saint-Germain, Rue Saint-André des Arts, and the Luxembourg Gardens. Continue towards the Seine for Shakespeare and Company, Notre-Dame, Île de la Cité, and the riverside bouquinistes, or head west towards the cafés and streets of Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

At TLC Paris, we recommend the Musée de Cluny for visitors looking for something quieter and more intimate than Paris’s largest museums. Allow time for The Lady and the Unicorn and the Roman remains before continuing into the Latin Quarter, towards the Panthéon, Luxembourg Gardens, or down to the Seine and Notre-Dame.