Saturday 8 December 2018

European Heritage Days

JdP 2018, Musée d'Ochier Cluny
The third weekend in September is in France reserved for the Journées du Patrimoine, comparable to the British National Heritage Days. Many monuments and museums are opening their doors either free of charge or with a discount. Often people who are living in a monument open their habitat to the people at a modest entrance fee.

Trésor de Cluny
Certainly when we first lived here this was an opportunity to see interesting buildings or museums for a very reasonable price. But, as with many things, there comes a time when you've seen it all.

However, in September 2017 archeologists found, whilst digging on the abbey grounds, a treasure consisting of golden and silver coins minted in the early 12th century, and a signet ring from the same period.

Signet ring (photo Journal de Saône-et-Loire)
For these Journées du Patrimoine the trésor de Cluny was brought back to the town where it was unearthed. It was on display in the Musée Ochier in Cluny. The public interest was so big that (something that never happens at this museum) people were quieting up to enter. So instead of visiting the abbey for the umpteenth time, I decided to join the queue, like a good Brit would have done.

Trésor de Cluny

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