Cluny

The abbey was constructed in the Romanesque architectural style, with three churches built in succession from the 4th to the early 12th centuries. The earliest basilica was the world's largest church until the St. Peter's Basilica construction began in Rome. Cluny was founded by Duke William I of Aquitaine in 910. He nominated Berno as the first abbot of Cluny, subject only to Pope Sergius III. The abbey was notable for its stricter adherence to the Rule of St. Benedict, whereby Cluny became acknowledged as the leader of western monasticism. In 1790 during the French Revolution, the abbey was sacked and mostly destroyed, with only a small part surviving.

Formerly known as the “Tour des Fèves”, it dates back to the 11th century. It was part of the fortified enclosure of the Cluny Abbey, reflecting the importance and influence of this monastic complex during the Middle Ages. This defensive tower, at the southwest corner of the abbey, was built to protect the site and control access. The name, “Tour des Fromages”, emerged in the 19th century: at that time, a woman used the tower to dry the cheeses she produced, giving rise to the popular name used today. The tower has kept this name although this activity has ceased. The tower is open to the public through the Tourist Office, offering exceptional panoramic views of Cluny and its abbey, as well as an exhibition on the site’s history and preservation.

It houses the most significant works of medieval sculpture from Cluny, from the town and the abbey. Reconstruction of part of the Grand Portal of Cluny III.