Hotel de Cluny, Paris, France, 1485

An example of the combination of Renaissance and Gothic architecture can be seen in Hotel de Cluny. Located in Paris, France, this site also goes by the name of Musee de Cluny as well as Musee National du Moyen Age. 

Remains of the Baths

Originally, the land that Hotel de Cluny sits on was once the Roman Baths of Cluny. However, not much remained after barbaric invasions of 285 AD. In 1334, King Philippe Auguste sold the ruins of the Roman baths to Pierre de Chalus, the Bishop of Cluny in Burgundy. Pierre de Chalus then used the land to build a complex to accommodate his abbots when they visited Paris. Despite its name, the building is not a hotel exactly. It followed more along the lines of a mansion. 1

After about one hundred years, the complex was taken over by Jacques d’Amboise who was the bishop of Clermont at the time. He used Hotel de Cluny as his residence and took the opportunity to rebuild it with Gothic and Renaissance elements in 1485. This version of Hotel de Cluny is what stands today in Paris’s 5th arrondissement next to the Sorbonne University in the heart of the Latin Quarter. 3

Plan of the Hotel Complex

When d’Amboise rebuilt Hotel de Cluny, he reused the ruins of the baths as much as he could by incorporating it into the foundation. This is always admirable because it is combining old architecture and new architecture in one building. In fact, visitors to Hotel de Cluny can view the ruins of the Roman baths (which date back to the 3rd century) from the top of the complex. 2

Interior view of the hotel complex

Both exterior and interior of Hotel de Cluny is truly amazing and it remains an outstanding example of civic architecture in medieval Paris. Some notable features of the complex include the stair tower, mullion windows and woodwork of the main facade. The roof is also a magnificent piece as well. It is embellished with carved friezes and elaborate gargoyles. In addition, the dormer windows are carved with the emblem of the Abbots of Cluny. 

During the revolution, Hotel de Cluny was declared state property. Then, Alexandre du Sommerard decided to rent the mansion to move his personal collection. When he passed away in 1843, the state took ownership of his large collection of medieval and Renaissance objects and decided to open a public museum. Since then to present day, Hotel de Cluny is a museum that houses a variety of magnificent medieval artifacts, including items from the 7th and 8th centuries. 2

The Dame a la Licorne Tapestry

One of the more well known pieces in the museum is called “The Dame a la Licorne” which translate to The Lady and the Unicorn. It is tapestry that consists of six scenes which cover the walls of an entire room. The scenes include a lady, a unicorn and a lion and the backgrounds are filled with woodland creatures, plants and flowers, making it a stunning landscape. Since this tapestry is so important, it is displayed in the museum in an exhibition room that has dim lights and sophisticated humidity control. 

Works Cited

1 Anderson, Christy. Renaissance Architecture. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2013. Print.

2 "Musée De Cluny - Top Museums in Paris." World Top Top. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2016.

3 Rudolph, Conrad. A Companion to Medieval Art: Romanesque and Gothic in Northern Europe. Malden, MA: Blackwell, 2006. Print.

Notre-Dame, Paris, France, French Gothic

Notre-Dame de Peris is a gothic cathedral located in Paris, France. Designed by architects Pierre de Montreuil, Jean-Baptiste-Antoine Lassus and Jean de Chelles, the cathedral took 182 years to complete. Notre-Dame de Peris is a perfect example of French gothic architecture.

Plan

Gothic architecture was created in France in 1141 and is derived from Romanesque architecture. With the integration of pointed arches and rib vaulting. Designers at the time discovered that these elements worked well together and allowed them to create lighter structures. Because walls were no longer load-bearing, large glass windows could be installed. These windows filtered and transformed light entering cathedrals, symbolizing divine intervention. ^[1]

West Facade

Due to the thinning structure, Gothic architecture often has a skeleton-like appearance. Other defining elements of gothic architecture are the flying buttress, large glass, pointed spires, and rose windows.

Over its construction, many architects worked on Notre-Dame. This is evident in the changing styles in the buildings elevation. Originally, the cathedral was not intended to have buttresses, but as the building grew, cracks appeared in the façade. This prompted architects to add buttresses to carry the load. This made Notre-Dame one of the first buildings to use buttresses, which has become a staple in gothic architecture.

Rose Window at Notre-Dame

Notre-Dame appears to be influenced be Carolingian and Romanesque architecture as well. This is evident in the western façade. While appearing to be a westwork, elements of gothic architecture are evident, most prominently is the rose window. The west façade is a harmonious play on horizontal and vertical lines. The two towers, reaching to the sky, are symbolic, telling us the cathedral was built for god. While the horizontal strips ground the building, signifying its use for man. The façade is essentially comprised of squares and circles. The square representing created and limited space, while the circle is representative of god, boundless and never ending. ^[2]

South Elevation

Still following the same form as ancient basilicas, Notre-Dame consists of an apse, transept and nave. It is flanked by double aisles and chapels. During a renovation in the 19^th century, a central spire was added.

Over time, the cathedral suffered some damage, much of which after the French Revolution. However, it is presumably saved from destruction by Napoleon. Today, the cathedral is still used for weekend mass. The cathedral has become a popular tourist destination.
  

[1] Roth Leland M. and Amanda C. Roth Clark, Understanding Architecutre Its Elements, History, and Meaning, Third Edition Westview Press 2014. P.365

[2] http://www.notredamedeparis.fr/The-west-facade