Cluny III

Cluny III was the third Abbatiale of the Abbaye of Cluny, built in 1085, under the abbatiat of Hugues de Semur. It is then a building of an exceptional size, with its 187 m length for a width of 90 m on the level of the transept. The building is largest of Christendom, after Saint-Pierre of Rome, built 5 centuries later.

Construction would originate in the dream of a monk, Gunzo, to which holy Pierre would have required to say to Hugues de Semur to build a new church. The apostle would have inspired the plan of the new abbey to him, which was to be ready to shelter a thousand of monks. In fact the marvellous dream makes it possible to justify a very proud project for an religious order. The Ordre of Cluny has however the means of its ambitions. It is the most influential order of the Moyen-âge, which integrates establishments of all Europe (Germany, Italy, Holy Land, England). It is even an essential support for the reforming companies of the Pape. Moreover, it profits from a contribution of gifts in enormous cash, by the princes and kings, of which Ferdinand III and Alphonse X, which ensures each years of the significant amounts of gold. The church is devoted in 1130, by the pope Innocent II.

Description

The building of Romanesque art must much to the architects Gauzon and Hézelon of Liege. The plan gives a report on an impressive building, 190 meters length, a Déambulatoire decorated of five radiating chapels, a double Transept of 59 and 73 meters comprising of the Absidiole S on the Eastern frontages, completed in 1100. The Nef is as large as the large transept, with eleven spans, and succeeds a Narthex (or before-nave, or Galileo) of five spans, which will take 12 years to be built (1107 - 1115) and 6 years to be arched. The two square towers of Barabans, high, 50 meters keep the entry of it. But it is the height which constitutes the most impressive element. The nave is indeed widened by double Collatéraux, but its Voûte rises with 30 meters out of three levels. Its broken vault is supported by arcs beams, and hollow Contrefort S. The crossing of the large transept is overcome by a 40 height meters cupola, surmounted by a tower square, accompanied by two turns on the sides, with couvrement octagonal. In the same way, the crossing of the small transept is decorated of a bell-tower of couvrement identical.

All dimensions of abbey are multiples of a basic module (100 Roman feet) and are all of the multiples of 7.

Dismantling

August 1st

See too

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