Museum of the Great Cluniac Site of Souvigny
Description
The Souvigny Museum, housed in the former monastic barns of the priory, takes you on a journey through 1,000 years of history. As a museum dedicated to the Middle Ages, it highlights two major themes: Souvigny, a daughter of Cluny, and Souvigny, the cradle of the Bourbons.
The museum’s collections, largely derived from archaeological excavations conducted in the church and the town, feature unique works and several masterpieces of medieval art:
• The Zodiac Column: featuring carved decorations and medieval symbolism, this pillar—carved in the 12th century—is the only one of its kind in the world.
• The choir screen: influenced by Byzantine art, which spread to the West through the influence of Cluny.
• The Gothic recumbent figures: funerary sculpture and Souvigny’s role as the princely necropolis of the Bourbons.
• The facsimiles of the Souvigny Bible: a jewel of European medieval art and book illumination.
The tour continues in the priory garden, accessible from the museum: a haven of peace blending monastic spirit with the elegance of a French formal garden, offering a moment of relaxation… outside of time.
New for 2026: The chapter house and crypt within the priory church will be open to the public (except on Fridays).
2026 Exhibition: “The Concert of Angels: An Artistic Representation of Music in the Middle Ages.” An exploration of angelic musicians in medieval murals (14th–15th centuries).
Guided tours of the museum, the Souvigny Priory, and its bell towers depart from the museum at the Grand Site Clunisien de Souvigny.
Princing
Full price: 6 € (Museum + garden: self-guided tour. €10 for 1 guided tour, €13 for 2 guided tours, €15 for 3 guided tours.)
Reduced price: 4 € (Museum + garden: self-guided tour. €6 for 1 guided tour, €8 for 2 guided tours, €10 for 3 guided tours. For ages 12–25, students, job seekers, and RSA recipients.).
Free entry for children under 12, press, tour guides holding a professional card, residents, disabled people and accompanying persons.
Free admission applies only to self-guided tours of the museum and gardens.
Additional information
Spoken languages
Equipements
Pets
Pets allowed