The Heritage of Cluny

21 March 2023

The abbey of Cluny managed hundreds of monasteries in Europe around the year  1000. The abbey was an important religious, artistic, economic and political power until the 13th century.

The European network transcended political and linguistic boundaries. Cluny left an immense heritage, also in the Romandie.

The French-speaking Kingdom of Burgundy (888-1032) covered today’s French-speaking Switzerland. Two monasteries, Romainmôtier and Payerne, were donated by the royal family to Cluny.

Princess Adelheid (870-929), sister of King Rudolf I of Burgundy (859-912), donated the monastery of Romainmôtier and Empress Adelheid (931-999), daughter of King Rudolf II (880-937), married to the German King Otto II,  donated the monastery of Payerne to Cluny.

In western Switzerland, there are also churches of Cluny in Bassins, Bursins, Mollens, Montcherand, Baulmes, Bevaix, Corcelles, Twann-Ile Saint-Pierre, Münchenwiler, Rüeggisberg and Rougemont.

 (Source and further information: La Fédération Européenne des Sites Clunisiens (FESC), www.sitesclunisiens.org).