The Cloisters, Medieval art museum in Fort Tryon Park, Manhattan, United States
The Cloisters is an art museum in Fort Tryon Park displaying medieval artworks and architectural elements in a series of connected indoor spaces and courtyards. The building incorporates authentic carved stone, columns, and arches sourced from European monasteries to create an immersive setting for the collection.
The museum opened in 1938 as a branch of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, built around a collection assembled during the previous decade. Medieval architectural components were transported from French monastery sites and reassembled on this hilltop location.
The space reflects how medieval Europeans expressed their faith and creativity through religious objects and decorative arts. Walking through the galleries, you encounter everyday items that reveal what mattered to people centuries ago.
The location sits on a hilltop requiring some stairs and a walk from the nearest train station, so wear comfortable shoes. The building has multiple galleries to explore at your own pace, and visitors typically spend between two and three hours here.
The collection here includes a famous series of medieval tapestries that tell a complex narrative using unicorn imagery woven throughout. These textiles were created in France and took weavers many months to complete with hand-dyed thread.
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