The Met Cloisters

The Met Cloisters The Met Cloisters, located on four acres overlooking the Hudson River in northern Manhattan's Fort Tryon Park, is the branch of the Museum dedicated to the art, architecture, & gardens of medieval Europe.
The Met Cloisters, located on four acres overlooking the Hudson River in northern Manhattan's Fort Tryon Park, is the branch of the Museum dedicated to the art, architecture, and gardens of medieval Europe. Deriving its name from the medieval cloisters that form the core of the building, it presents a harmonious and evocative setting for more than 2,000 exceptional artworks and architectural elements from the medieval West.
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The Met Cloisters, located on four acres overlooking the Hudson River in northern Manhattan's Fort Tryon Park, is the branch of the Museum dedicated to the art, architecture, and gardens of medieval Europe. Deriving its name from the medieval cloisters that form the core of the building, it presents a harmonious and evocative setting for more than 2,000 exceptional artworks and architectural elements from the medieval West. Accessibility The Museum is committed to making its collection, buildings, programs, and services accessible to all audiences. The Met Cloisters offers events for visitors with disabilities on a regular basis. For more information about accessibility and programs for visitors with disabilities at The Met Cloisters, contact [email protected] or call 212-650-2280 during Museum hours.

This is the final weekend to see The Colmar Treasure: A Medieval Jewish Legacy! From the exhibition page (link in our bi...
01/11/2020

This is the final weekend to see The Colmar Treasure: A Medieval Jewish Legacy!


From the exhibition page (link in our bio):

A cache of jeweled rings, brooches, and coins—the precious possessions of a Jewish family of medieval Alsace—was hidden in the fourteenth century in the wall of a house in Colmar, France. Discovered in 1863 and
on view in an exhibition at The Met Cloisters, the Colmar Treasure revives the memory of a once-thriving Jewish community that was scapegoated and put to death when the Plague struck the region with devastating ferocity in 1348–49.

A generous loan of the Musée de Cluny, Paris, the Colmar Treasure is displayed alongside select works from The Met Cloisters and little-known Judaica from collections in the United States and France. Although
the objects on view are small in scale and relatively few in number, the ensemble overturns conventional notions of medieval Europe as a monolithic Christian society. The exhibition points to both legacy and loss, underscoring the prominence of the Jewish
minority community in the tumultuous fourteenth century and the perils it faced.

The Colmar Treasure is on view in the Glass Gallery at The Met Cloisters through January 12, 2020.
#themetcloisters #jewishhistory #medievalhistory #jewelry @ The Met Cloisters

Today was the last refreshment of our handmade holiday decorations for the season. Freshly polished lady apples, roses, ...
01/03/2020

Today was the last refreshment of our handmade holiday decorations for the season. Freshly polished lady apples, roses, and other fresh cut flowers were added to candelabras and Main Hall arches. This is the last weekend to enjoy The Cloisters' medieval-inspired holiday decorations. While you are visiting, be sure to smell the aromatic, potted jasmines currently in bloom in the Cuxa Cloister. #themetcloisters #christmastide #newyear #tradition #plants #roses #jasmine #nycmuseums @ The Met Cloisters

The Met Cloisters is searching for a Managing Horticulturist to lead our internationally-recognized gardens. If you are ...
12/30/2019

The Met Cloisters is searching for a Managing Horticulturist to lead our internationally-recognized gardens. If you are interested in this opportunity, please check out the position profile on LinkedIn (link in bio). #themetcloisters #gardening #horticulture

Following the freezing rain in New York City this week, The Met Cloisters was transformed into an icy wonderland. Enjoy ...
12/19/2019

Following the freezing rain in New York City this week, The Met Cloisters was transformed into an icy wonderland. Enjoy this collection of photos all submitted by various staff. We couldn’t help but each document the new and beautiful landscape. #themetcloisters #winterwonderland #seasonsgreetings #ice #landscape @ The Met Cloisters

Five grand arches, the centerpiece of the Christmastide decorations at The Met Cloisters, were installed last week. Visu...
12/16/2019

Five grand arches, the centerpiece of the Christmastide decorations at The Met Cloisters, were installed last week. Visual evidence for medieval holiday decorations is rare, but references survive in carols and other sources. Evergreens feature heavily in all our designs, reminders of the coming spring and of eternal life since they remained green while all other trees were bare. Holly and ivy are the most significant plants associated with the medieval celebration of Christmastide and can be seen on the arches as well as in our galleries during the winter. #medievaldecoration #christmastide #holidaysatthecloisters #themetcloisters #evergreen

Caleb, our managing horticulturist, and his team are busy putting up our medieval holiday decorations today! This annual...
12/12/2019

Caleb, our managing horticulturist, and his team are busy putting up our medieval holiday decorations today! This annual tradition is supported by the helping hands of all museum staff and volunteers—our decorations are handmade from fresh materials every year. Stop by between December 13, 2019 and January 6, 2020 to enjoy the season with us! #medievaltraditions #christmastide #themetcloisters #themet #nycholidays #nycmuseum #winter #holly

Join us today for an afternoon of talks and discussion presented by experts from around the world exploring the Jewish c...
10/27/2019

Join us today for an afternoon of talks and discussion presented by experts from around the world exploring the Jewish community, art, and viticulture of medieval Alsace, France. Talks will be presented in the Fuentidueña Chapel free to all visitors with museum admission from 2 pm to 4 pm. Please note that space is limited -- seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. These talks are presented in conjunction with the exhibition The Colmar Treasure: A Medieval Jewish Legacy on view through January 12, 2020. https://www.metmuseum.org/events/programs/met-speaks/free-lectures/the-colmar-treasure-a-medieval-jewish-legacy-afternoon-of-talks

Continuing from our previous post, Sempervivum tectorum was also known as Jove’s beard, for its tightly clustered leaves...
10/08/2019

Continuing from our previous post, Sempervivum tectorum was also known as Jove’s beard, for its tightly clustered leaves said to resemble a beard. A favorite plant at The Met Cloisters, we grow multiple pots of this succulent, some of which are seen here on the parapets of the 12th-century Cuxa Cloister. The juice from the leaves was used medicinally to treat skin inflammations or burns and to relieve pain. Laying bruised leaves across the crown of one’s head would reportedly staunch a nosebleed, though we are a bit dubious… #medievalmedicine #succulents #themetcloisters #beardorplant

Sempervivum tectorum, also known as Jupiter’s beard, houseleek, or hens and chicks, among other names, is one of the sig...
10/03/2019

Sempervivum tectorum, also known as Jupiter’s beard, houseleek, or hens and chicks, among other names, is one of the signature plants at The Met Cloisters. This succulent’s use as a magical protection against lightning can be traced through the Middle Ages back to antiquity, where it was planted on tile and thatch roofs. The Capitulare de Villis, an indispensable 9th-century source for medieval gardens, instructs the gardener to grow houseleek on the roofs to protect Charlemagne’s imperial estates from fire.
Houseleeks are among the plants grown in large pots on the West Terrace at the Museum, which is actually the roof of a workspace below, taking advantage of its traditional, protective properties. Swipe through for a photo of the West Terrace plants and view of the Hudson river and New Jersey Palisades. #themetcloisters #magicalprotection #hensandchicks #hudsonriver #nycviews @ Palisades Interstate Park

Join us this Saturday, September 28th, between 12 and 2 pm for It's All About the Gold: Learn to Gild the Medieval Way, ...
09/27/2019

Join us this Saturday, September 28th, between 12 and 2 pm for It's All About the Gold: Learn to Gild the Medieval Way, a demonstration and short workshop with calligrapher and manuscript illuminator Karen Gorst. Karen will explain the process of illuminating medieval manuscript pages and provide materials for a guided, hands on experience. The demonstration is open to all visitors but the workshop will be first come, first served as space and materials are limited. This program is offered free with museum admission.
Above: A view of some of the manuscripts currently on display in the Treasury at The Met Cloisters (from closest to farthest we have The Cloisters Apocalypse, The Hours of Jeanne d’Evreux, a Book of Hours by Simon Bening, and the Belles Heures). High resolution images of some manuscript folios can be found on The Met’s website, though we always recommend coming to see these beautiful pieces in person! #themetcloisters #manuscripts #illumination #gilding #nycmuseums

Our very tall stand of teasel glows gold in the early autumn morning light… We grow both Dipsacus fullonum and D. sativu...
09/17/2019

Our very tall stand of teasel glows gold in the early autumn morning light…
We grow both Dipsacus fullonum and D. sativus in the Bonnefont Herb Garden at The Met Cloisters, though only the D. fullonum (commonly known as fuller’s teasel) flowered this year. The spiny seed heads of both plants were used to tease woolen fibers before they were spun and to raise the nap on finished cloth. #medievalplants #fibers #spinningandweaving #themetcloisters #autumnmorning #nycgardens

Calendula officinalis, or pot marigold, blooms beside sea holly in the Bonnefont Herb Garden at The Met Cloisters. The b...
09/12/2019

Calendula officinalis, or pot marigold, blooms beside sea holly in the Bonnefont Herb Garden at The Met Cloisters. The bright orange-yellow flowers were cooked in pottage—hence, the common name—and used as a food coloring in lieu of expensive saffron in other foods and drinks. Calendula’s medicinal uses included strengthening eyesight, curing a toothache or headache, and treating wounds or sprains. #themetcloisters #medievalgarden #calendula #marigold #flowers #medievalmedicine

A Welcome Visitor. A foreign visitor arrived at The Met Cloisters last week. She came in on a flight from Paris, but she...
07/23/2019

A Welcome Visitor.

A foreign visitor arrived at The Met Cloisters last week. She came in on a flight from Paris, but she is from the Middle East. She’s fairly easy to spot in the galleries, since she covers her hair completely with a scarf and wears a long gown. She doesn’t know English. She is accompanied by her daughter, who is a teenage mother, and a toddler grandson. Neither her husband nor the father of the baby is with them. We have provided a place for the family in our Boppard Gallery, and we hope you might find time to come see them and learn their story. Do introduce yourself. Her name is Anne--Saint Anne in fact; her daughter is called Mary and her grandson is named Jesus. We are providing a home for the three of them until January. After that they will return to the Musée de Cluny, Paris, which has sent them to us as a most generous loan.
The feast of Saint Anne is this Friday. @museecluny #themetcloisters #arthistory #saintanne #medievalart

“The Colmar Treasure: A Medieval Jewish Legacy” opens Monday! Join us for an intimate look into the lives of the Jewish ...
07/19/2019

“The Colmar Treasure: A Medieval Jewish Legacy” opens Monday! Join us for an intimate look into the lives of the Jewish community in medieval Alsace, France. Visit the link below for ongoing events and tours, including free Sunday gallery talks relating themes from The Met Cloisters collection to the treasures on loan from the Musée de Cluny and private collections from the United States and France. The Colmar Treasure will be on view through January 12, 2020. #ColmarTreasure

https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2019/colmar-treasure-medieval-jewish-legacy

💍: Jewish ceremonial wedding ring, from the Colmar Treasure, ca. 1300­–before 1348. Gold, opaque and translucent enamel, 1 3/8 x 7/8 in. (3.5 x 2.3 cm). Musée de Cluny – Musée national du Moyen Âge, © RMN-Grand Palais / Art Resource, NY.

Thank you for celebrating Midsummer with us at the Museum! Garden Day is a special day for us and we are happy to be hav...
06/22/2019

Thank you for celebrating Midsummer with us at the Museum! Garden Day is a special day for us and we are happy to be have been favored by both the weather and visitors. Swipe through the photos of the various themed talks, given by garden staff and educators. At the end of our last talk, visitors joined Betty Ann in creating a virtual bonfire of wishes for the future. We hope we’ve now imbued the summer with our combined positive energy! #themetcloisters #nycsummer #museumday #familyfun #summer #midsummermagic @ The Met Cloisters

This Saturday we will be celebrating the magic of midsummer with our annual Garden Day event. Join us in the gardens as ...
06/20/2019

This Saturday we will be celebrating the magic of midsummer with our annual Garden Day event. Join us in the gardens as we explore medieval traditions, learn about herbs associated with the summer solstice, and make art. Garden Day is for all ages. Swipe through for the day’s schedule or click here for more info: https://www.metmuseum.org/events/programs/met-celebrates/festivals-and-special-programs/cloisters-garden-days #medievalgardens #midsummer #magic #herbs #familyfun #saturdays @ The Met Cloisters

We call them medieval species, the medieval artist called them inspiration. Even a handful of medieval flowers deserves ...
06/12/2019

We call them medieval species, the medieval artist called them inspiration. Even a handful of medieval flowers deserves a lifetime of study.
#medievalflowers #medievalgarden #metcloisters #cloistergarden #summerinthecity

Pasque flower (Anemone vulgaris) receives its common name from the Hebrew, Pasakh or Passover. Flowering in May, the nam...
04/19/2019

Pasque flower (Anemone vulgaris) receives its common name from the Hebrew, Pasakh or Passover. Flowering in May, the naming of pasque flower follows an ancient tradition of associating plants with significant holidays and observances. Collectively, anemones are called windflowers which is taken from the Greek, anemos, wind. We have certainly had our share of gusts this spring and look forward to gentler winds as spring unfolds.
Elsewhere in the gardens, the statuesque and stunning Fritillaria imperialis stands up against the grey skies in the shadow of the bell tower. #pasqueflower #pulsatilla #anemone #passover #medievalgarden #themetcloisters #cloistergarden @ The Met Cloisters

04/18/2019

Today, our visitors joined us for a minute of reflection as we rang a bell in The Met Cloisters tower. The ringing of our bell coincided with the ringing of bells across the UK in solidarity with the people of Paris following the fire at Notre Dame. Thank you to everyone who joined us in the Judy Black Garden and on The Met’s page for the live feed.

#repost from @metmuseum ...Today at 2 pm at The Met Cloisters, in observance of the fire at Notre-Dame, a bell in the Mu...
04/18/2019

#repost from @metmuseum ...
Today at 2 pm at The Met Cloisters, in observance of the fire at Notre-Dame, a bell in the Museum’s tower will toll for one minute, coinciding with the ringing of bells scheduled to take place across the United Kingdom. We invite you to join us by watching and listening live on The Met's page.

Mandrake (Mandragora officinalis) is one of the earliest harbingers of spring in the medieval garden and perhaps the mos...
04/16/2019

Mandrake (Mandragora officinalis) is one of the earliest harbingers of spring in the medieval garden and perhaps the most storied of all our plants. With a flower of understated beauty, its annual occurrence is witnessed by only the most observant visitors.
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Other happenings in the garden include some of our favorite garden foils; the chartreuse euphorbias. These effervescent, lime green bracts brilliantly contrast with the hot colors of spring ephemerals. Pictured here in full glory is the dwarf Mediterranean spurge (Euphorbia charcias). #medievalgarden #Mandrake #TheMetCloisters #Euphorbiaceae #Euphorbiacharcias #Solanaceae @ The Met Cloisters

Happy National Unicorn Day with some of our own magical animal. Swipe to see more! #nationalunicornday #themetcloisters ...
04/10/2019

Happy National Unicorn Day with some of our own magical animal. Swipe to see more! #nationalunicornday #themetcloisters #tapestry #architecture #medievalart @ The Met Cloisters

The early morning spring light in the cloister is captured quite perfectly here by the gardener enjoying a quiet moment ...
04/08/2019

The early morning spring light in the cloister is captured quite perfectly here by the gardener enjoying a quiet moment before the museum opens. April 19th the glass enclosure around the Judy Black Garden in Cuxa Cloister comes down and the garden will officially open to the public. For now, witness the plants stirring and enjoy the sun’s warmth from protected arcades perfumed with citrus and jasmine. #medievalgarden #judyblackgarden #themetcloisters #cloistergarden #bestweekatthemetcloisters @ The Met Cloisters

We are thrilled that one of the finest Haggadot from 14th-century Spain, the Prato Haggadah, is again on view in the Tre...
04/05/2019

We are thrilled that one of the finest Haggadot from 14th-century Spain, the Prato Haggadah, is again on view in the Treasury at The Met Cloisters, on loan from The Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary. Intended for use at the Passover table, the Haggadah traces the biblical story of the Exodus and commemorates the Jews’ miraculous escape from slavery in Egypt. While the essential components of the text were established in the second century, it was not until the Middle Ages that the Haggadah was first made into an independent, illustrated book for household use. Here we see the table set and men, women and children enjoying their meal. One woman prepares to pour wine for another, with the words “Pour out…”, below seeming to suggest a convivial link to the image. But the text takes a different tone, imploring God to “pour out your wrath” on nonbelievers. #haggadah #passover #themetcloisters #judaism #manuscript @jtslibrary

Mother and daughter make the perfect seasonal image, as it is customary in many churches to shroud the cross during Lent...
03/29/2019

Mother and daughter make the perfect seasonal image, as it is customary in many churches to shroud the cross during Lent. Ours is covered to protect from the elements and will be back on view in April. #themetcloisters #cloistergarden #changingseason #spring

Look what we found sprouting in our Trie and Bonnefont cloisters. Spring is right around the corner! #themetcloisters #g...
03/19/2019

Look what we found sprouting in our Trie and Bonnefont cloisters. Spring is right around the corner! #themetcloisters #gardens #medievalcloister #flowers #springtime @ The Met Cloisters

Against a backdrop of melting snow, these early signs of spring are especially welcome. We expect blankets of wildflower...
03/15/2019

Against a backdrop of melting snow, these early signs of spring are especially welcome. We expect blankets of wildflowers from here on in!
#snowdrops #hellebores #crocus #cloisters #medievalgarden #themetcloisters
@ The Met Cloisters

Last week, NYU Conservation Center students, Nicole Feldman and Sarah Montonchaikul, took XRF readings of the Resurrecti...
03/14/2019

Last week, NYU Conservation Center students, Nicole Feldman and Sarah Montonchaikul, took XRF readings of the Resurrection Relief on loan from the Hispanic Society (Spanish, possibly Valencia, ca.1500). They took these readings as part of a class on the Instrumental Analysis of works of art. #artconservation #spanishart #themetcloisters #nyu @nyuifa @ The Met Cloisters

It is impossible to miss these welcome harbingers of spring perfuming the arcades and galleries. Ours are a simple type ...
03/06/2019

It is impossible to miss these welcome harbingers of spring perfuming the arcades and galleries. Ours are a simple type in the spirit of the wild ephemerals growing in the south of France. We agree with Louise Beebe Wilder who once called the double hyacinths, “fat abominations”! You may not feel as strongly but must agree that they possess a fine fragrance. #muscari #hyacinthus #narcissus #cloisters #medievalgarden #fragrantgarden #themetcloisters #springiscoming @ The Met Cloisters

To our delight, New York City became a winter wonderland overnight! Our intern, Sophie, spent the morning taking these b...
03/04/2019

To our delight, New York City became a winter wonderland overnight! Our intern, Sophie, spent the morning taking these beautiful photos of The Met Cloisters and Fort Tryon Park. Sophie is working with us as part of the curatorial training program of the Institut national du patrimoine. Swipe through for the whole set! #themetcloisters #winter #weather #naturephotography #nycparks #snowday @ The Met Cloisters

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99 Margaret Corbin Drive
New York, NY
10040

Opening Hours

Monday 10:00 - 17:15
Tuesday 10:00 - 17:15
Wednesday 10:00 - 17:15
Thursday 10:00 - 17:15
Friday 10:00 - 17:15
Saturday 10:00 - 17:15
Sunday 10:00 - 17:15

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(212) 923-3700

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Today, our visitors joined us for a minute of reflection as we rang a bell in The Met Cloisters tower. The ringing of our bell coincided with the ringing of bells across the UK in solidarity with the people of Paris following the fire at Notre Dame. Thank you to everyone who joined us in the Judy Black Garden and on The Met’s page for the live feed.

We hope everyone is staying warm and safe on this blustery NYC day! Snow is one of our favorite types of weather to see at the museum. Not just because of a potential snow day (we rarely close due to weather), but due the way the snow transforms our gardens and grounds. This windy view is of our winterized Trie Cloister where we also have a café in summer. #triecloister #themetcloisters #winterweather #boomerangvideo

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Comments

leave the city (ny) and find refuge here. wonder!
A peaceful oasis in upper Manhattan. Make sure you see the Anglo Saxon cross of Edward the Confessor, the 'Cloisters Cross'.
I finally visited today since I had free time in NYC on this trip. By doing so, I discovered the best place in the U.S., bar none. Words are inadequate.
HELLO people à USA. i'm a french writer and my next roman is beginning in the cloisters museums. I need details of each cloisters and their arts. Please, have you photographs for me? I Have never been in New-York and I don't want to say stupidities and wrong descriptions. my mail is [email protected] or on my page facebook. THANKS of all my heart
I love the Cloisters: The tapestries and the original archways. The Rockefellers knew how to do it; they also purchased the land opposite the Hudson River to preserve the look of Medieval Europe. Amazing place--and also the largest Medieval Museum in the US. Jim
You were very lucky to tour this beautiful place!
I wish you gave more details on the content of the upcoming talks
One of my favorite museums in New York! I think you are a hidden gem :) I included The Cloisters on my travel blog recently, check it out!