Jardin du musée de Cluny

The Cluny Museum garden is a planted green space next to the historic museum building in Paris, designed with pathways and beds following medieval horticultural principles. The grounds blend carefully maintained plantings with herb sections and shaped shrubs throughout.

The site was once a major bathing complex from the 3rd century, built by Roman colonists and used by local boatmen. After Rome's decline, the land served different purposes over centuries before the museum arrived.

The garden design draws from medieval artwork in the museum, featuring symbolic plants like roses and herbs that held meaning in that era. Visitors walking through the space can discover how each plantings connects to the broader medieval worldview.

Visitors enter through the museum entrance on Rue du Sommerard, where standard opening hours and access conditions apply. Wearing comfortable shoes is advised, as the grounds spread across levels with some uneven surfaces underfoot.

Beneath the pathways and planting beds lie remains of the Roman thermal baths, which visitors can sometimes glimpse in special viewing areas. These archaeological layers tell the story of different civilizations occupying the same spot across nearly two millennia.