European Heritage Days 2024 Celebrated at Abbey of Cluny


The Abbey of Cluny, a Site recognized by the European Heritage Label (EHL), welcomed over 3,700 visitors during the European Heritage Days held on September 21 and 22, 2024. This event allowed the public to explore the Site’s historical significance and its contributions to European cultural heritage.
This year’s theme, “Heritage of Routes, Networks, and Connections,” aligned with Cluny’s mission to showcase its role in preserving Cluniac culture. The Abbey and the Museum of Art and Archaeology of Cluny utilized this occasion to highlight their commitment to securing UNESCO World Heritage status, especially as the Cluniac network celebrates its 30th anniversary from October 11 to 13, 2024.
Throughout the weekend, the Abbey and museum offered a variety of activities for visitors, including the extended exhibition “Cluny, the Abbots of the King,” which highlighted influential Cluniac figures and their contributions to European monasticism, and the #AllConnected exhibition, showcasing the connections within the Cluniac network in Switzerland. Archaeologists from CNRS and Lyon 2 University provided insights into ongoing excavations at the medieval cloister, while four workshops introduced children to archaeological techniques, fostering early interest in history. Additionally, the Ensemble Masques enriched the visitor experience with live baroque music performed along the tour route.
The weekend also provided the opportunity to open the treasure of the monks’ chapel in Berzé-la-Ville, where nearly 500 visitors discovered the beautifully preserved 12th-century Romanesque murals.
Abbey of Cluny was awarded the European Heritage Label in 2014.
© Centre des Monuments Nationaux / Léa Robin