In the heart of Burgundy, the small town of Cluny holds a secret. The abbey standing tall in the city center is a mere fragment of what the 11th-century Maior Ecclesia once was, the biggest church ever conceived at the time. A feat that was accomplished in less than 70 years.
How were the builder monks able to erect a nave larger than that of Notre-Dame de Paris? How did the choice of vaults, a clear departure from the norm of the era, allow to gain more height? What bold techniques heralding Gothic Art were picked to flood the inside with light and enhance the spiritual aspect of the abbey? How did the monks, using a complex hydraulic system, provide water to an entire community?
This investigative documentary stems from the exceptional work of an American archeologist who spent 40 years studying Cluny in order to recreate its bygone architecture. Today, thanks to incredibly realistic 3D models and interviews with the best experts, these architectural wonders are explained, as a colossal religious city is unveiled. Welcome to Cluny Abbey, the “second Rome”.
Up Next in Recent Additions to History Hit
-
Diana: Seven Days that Shook the World
Diana: Seven Days that Shook the World examines the aftermath of Princess Diana's tragic death and the dramatic week leading up to her funeral.
-
Our Queen at War
Our Queen at War reveals Princess Elizabeth's extraordinary teenage life; from broadcasting to the children of the Empire, to putting on pantomimes for the war effort.
-
Who Killed the Princes in the Tower?
In 1483, the twelve-year-old King Edward V and his younger brother were put in the Tower of London by their uncle, Richard, the Duke of Gloucester. Weeks later, Richard pronounced himself King. The boys were never seen again.
For more than 500 years it has been assumed that Richard III killed hi...
3 Comments